SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5296

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

        Human Services & Corrections, February 26, 1999

Title:  An act relating to deterring juvenile violence.

Brief Description:  Creating a grant program to reduce the number of juvenile offenders.

Sponsors:  Senators Costa, Long, McAuliffe, Prentice, Shin, Fairley, Kohl‑Welles, Rasmussen, Haugen, Gardner and Kline.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Human Services & Corrections:  2/4/99, 2/26/99 [DPS-WM].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES & CORRECTIONS

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5296 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

  Signed by Senators Hargrove, Chair; Costa, Vice Chair; Franklin, Kohl-Welles, Long, Patterson, Sheahan, Stevens, Zarelli.

Staff:  Lynn Hale (786-7430)

Background:  Concern exists that present law does not adequately deter juvenile violence. Research has shown that interventions designed to deter juvenile violence and delinquency are cost-effective and compare favorably with the cost of detention.  It has been suggested that the Legislature should promote the development of research-based prevention and early intervention programs that target youths and their families who have not entered the juvenile justice system by funding these programs.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  The Legislature finds that research has shown that interventions designed to deter juvenile violence and delinquency are cost effective and compare favorably to the cost of detention.  A purpose of the Family Policy Council is to develop a program to fund research based prevention and early intervention programs that target youth and their families who have not entered the juvenile justice system.

$5 million is appropriated from the general fund to the Family Policy Council for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2001.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The grant program is no longer established or administered by the Governor's Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee.  Eligibility and requirements to obtain grants will now be determined by the Family Policy Council.

The 15-member review team required by the original bill is no longer required.

Funds are no longer taken from the violence reduction and drug enforcement account to fund grants under this act.

The act is no longer known as the Juvenile Violence Deterrence Act of 1999.

Appropriation:  $5 million is appropriated from the general fund to the Family Policy Council for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2001.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on January 26, 1999.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  Enthusiastic support exists for a move to intervention and prevention programs that target individuals before they enter the system.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Norm Maleng, King County Prosecuting Attorney; John Ladenburg, Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney; Glenn Dunnan; Shirley Stallings, M.D., Compass Health; Peter Berliner, Children's Alliance; Martha Harden, Superior Court Judges Association; Marilee Roloff, Governor's Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee; Larry Erickson, WASPC.