SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6524

As of February 4, 2012

Title: An act relating to the family policy council and the council for children and families.

Brief Description: Delaying elimination of the family policy council and the council for children and families.

Sponsors: Senators Hargrove and Shin.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Human Services & Corrections: 1/31/12, 2/02/12 [DPS, DNP].

Ways & Means:

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6524 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

Signed by Senators Hargrove, Chair; Stevens, Ranking Minority Member; Carrell, Harper, McAuliffe and Padden.

Minority Report: Do not pass.

Signed by Senator Regala, Vice Chair.

Staff: Jennifer Strus (786-7316)

Staff: Megan Atkinson (786-7446)

Background: Family Policy Council (FPC). FPC was established to modify public policy and programs to empower communities to support and respond to the needs of individual families and children, and to improve the responsiveness of services for children and families at risk by facilitating greater coordination and flexibility in the use of funds by state and local service agencies.

FPC must:

• establish boundaries for community networks;

• develop technical assistance and training programs to assist communities in developing networks;

• approve the structure, purpose, goals, plan, and performance measures of each network;

• identify prevention and early intervention programs and funds which could be transferred to a community network and report findings to the Governor and Legislature;

• reward exceptionally successful community networks;

• seek opportunities to maximize federal and other funding that is consistent with the plans approved by the FPC; and

• monitor the implementation of programs contracted by participating state agencies.

FPC partners with approximately 42 community public health and safety networks.

Council for Children and Families (CCF). CCF was established to increase educational programs and services to prevent child abuse and neglect in partnership between communities, citizens, and the state.

CCF is authorized to contract with public or private nonprofit organizations, agencies, schools, or with qualified individuals for the establishment of a range of community-based programs and services designed to reduce child abuse and neglect. CCF is also charged with:

• facilitating the exchange of information between groups concerned with families and children;

• consulting with the applicable agencies, commissions, and boards to help determine the probable effectiveness, fiscal soundness, need for proposed educational, and service programs for the prevention of child abuse and neglect;

• establishing fee schedules to provide for the recipients of services to reimburse the state General Fund for the cost of services received; and

• accepting and dispersing funds from the Children's Trust Fund.

E2SHB 1965, passed during the 2011 legislative session, eliminated FPC and CCF effective June 30, 2012. The community networks were preserved.

Summary of Bill: The bill as referred to committee not considered.

Summary of Bill (Recommended Substitute): The date for eliminating FPC is extended one year to June 30, 2013.

The duties of FPC are changed and are as follows:

• develop a transition plan, no later than October 31, 2012, for the oversight of and accountability to the public of the networks as quasi-governmental entities after FPC sunsets;

• partner with the public-private initiative (established in E2SHB 1965) to support continued community capacity development in the state;

• assist in identifying those community networks best positioned to participate in activities established in the public-private initiative;

• assist the networks in identifying and obtaining funding opportunities that help to achieve the network purposes, participate in the public-private initiative, and build community capacity; and

• ensure that the transition plan is implemented by June 30, 2013.

The transition plan is to be delivered to the appropriate legislative committees no later than November 15, 2012.

EFFECT OF CHANGES MADE BY HUMAN SERVICES & CORRECTIONS COMMITTEE (Recommended Substitute as Passed Committee): Provisions relating to CCF are removed from the bill so that CCF expires on June 30, 2012.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested on January 26, 2012.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: The bill contains several effective dates. Please refer to the bill.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony as Heard in Committee (Human Services & Corrections): PRO: This bill protects the state's investment in community capacity building efforts by the networks by allowing the time for a thoughtful transition. This bill more clearly defines the state's role in the transition. The bill keeps the continuity of the networks intact. The bill continues the credibility and continuity the system has developed over time. Private partners have indicated an interest in continuing to support the work of the networks, and it makes sense to continue the work of FPC during the transition period so that the transition can be much smoother.

Persons Testifying (Human Services & Corrections): PRO: Rob Beem, Community Networks Coalition; Marian Harrison, Snohomish County Network; Geoffrey Morgan, Whatcom County Network.