5048-S.E AMH SMIN MERE 485

ESSB 5048 - H AMD TO H AMD (H-2540.1/17) 391

By Representative Smith

ADOPTED 03/31/2017

    On page 105, line 18, increase the general fund-state appropriation for fiscal year 2018 by $43,000

    On page 105, line 19, increase the general fund-state appropriation for fiscal year 2019 by $5000

    On page 106, line 12, correct the total.

    On page 113, after line 3, insert the following:

"(33)(a) $43,000 of the general fund--state appropriation for fiscal year 2018 and $5000 of the general fund--state appropriation for fiscal year 2019 are provided solely for the department to contract with a nongovernmental organization, with experience in reducing the likelihood of child sexual assault and misconduct, to develop a child safety policy in accordance with the guidelines published by the center for disease control to prevent child sexual abuse within youth-serving organizations.  The child safety policy shall be for all organizations that provide recreational programming to individuals under age eighteen, including local government organizations and organizations that contract with local governments to provide such programming. The child safety policy must contain minimum standards that address the following: (i) screening and selection of employees and volunteers;(ii) guidelines for interactions between individuals; (iii) monitoring the behavior of employees, volunteers, and participants; (iv) ensuring safe environments; (v) responding to inappropriate behavior, breaches in policy, and allegations; and (vi) training about child sexual abuse prevention.

(b) The department shall encourage the contracted nongovernmental organization to work with organizations that provide recreational programming for individuals under age eighteen to establish the minimum standards, and these standards shall be used to approve the child safety policies of such organizations.  The minimum standards must be developed and made available on the department's public web site by December 1, 2017.

(c) Beginning December 1, 2017, the department shall select a region of two contiguous counties, with a combined population between three hundred thousand and three hundred fifty thousand, for a pilot program, whereby participants are trained regarding the child safety policy developed by the nongovernmental organization.  Under the pilot program, the department shall collaborate with the contracted nongovernmental organization and local governments of the two counties to ensure that, by June 30, 2018, all local government organizations within the two-county region that provide recreational programming for individuals under age eighteen have established and implemented a child safety policy that meets the minimum standards.

(d) By December 1, 2018, the department shall report the following to the appropriate committees of the legislature:  (i) a description of the pilot program and of the child safety policy requirements; (ii) recommendations regarding implementation of the minimum standards statewide, in all organizations that provide recreational programming to individuals under age eighteen; and (iii) after consultation with the department of early learning, recommendations for any modifications to implement a child safety policy appropriate for child care providers."

EFFECT:   (1) Requires the Department of Health (DOH), with a nongovernmental entity, to develop minimum standards for a child safety policy for organizations that provide recreational programming for youth.  The policy shall be posted on the DOH's website by December 1, 2017.

(2) Requires the DOH, by December 1, 2017, to select two contiguous counties for a pilot program to provide training regarding the child safety policy and to ensure that the local governments within the two counties that provide recreational programming for youth have established and implemented the policy.

(3) Requires the DOH to report to the Legislature regarding the policy, recommendations for statewide implementation, and recommendations for modifications for application of the policy to child care providers.

FISCAL IMPACT:

           Increases General Fund - State by $48,000.

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