SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6815

BYSenator Smith

Revising the contracting arrangements for evaluation of the maternity care access act.

Senate Committee on Children & Family Services

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 31, 1990; February 1, 1990

Majority Report:     That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6815 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

     Signed by Senators Smith, Chairman; Craswell, Vice Chairman; Bailey, Stratton.

Senate Staff:Carol Pedigo (786-7417)

                February 1, 1990

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES, FEBRUARY 1, 1990

BACKGROUND:

The Legislature passed the Maternity Care Access Act during the 1989 session.  Among other things, this act requires the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) to contract with an independent, nonprofit entity to evaluate the maternity care access program and to report to the Legislature by December 1, 1990.

The department has received 45 letters of interest from entities willing to do the evaluation.  Only nine of these are nonprofit.  It is common for many of the groups who express initial interest to later choose not to respond to the formal request for proposal.  The department and the Legislature are concerned that there may not be a good choice of groups able to qualify to do the evaluation.  To alleviate this problem, the proponents of the bill recommend that the requirement for the agency to be nonprofit should be eliminated.

The maternity care access program has been delayed in implementation, and due to the nature of the care given, information may not be available to evaluate the effectiveness of the program in time for the December 1, 1990 due date.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) is required to contract with an independent entity to evaluate the maternity care access act.  Language requiring the entity to be nonprofit is eliminated.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

The due date of the evaluation report is changed to December 1, 1991.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:   none

Fiscal Note:    requested

Effective Date:The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

Senate Committee - Testified:   No one