HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1390

             As Reported By House Committee on:

                       Human Services

Title:  An act relating to establishment of a community mobilization program for teens.

Brief Description:  Creating a community mobilization program for teens.

Sponsor(s):  Representatives Hine, Leonard, Winsley, Belcher, Holland, Prentice, Jones, Sprenkle, Fraser, Brekke, H. Myers, Anderson, Riley, Heavey, Inslee, R. Meyers, Dorn, Cooper, G. Fisher, Basich, Pruitt, Bray, Franklin, Phillips, Valle, Roland, Rasmussen, Scott, Dellwo, Sheldon, O'Brien, Jacobsen, Wang and Rayburn.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Human Services, February 18, 1991, DPS.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

HUMAN SERVICES

Majority Report: That Substitute House Bill No. 1390 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 8 members:  Representatives Leonard, Chair; Riley, Vice Chair; Winsley, Ranking Minority Member; Anderson; Beck; Brekke; R. King; and H. Myers.

Minority Report: Do not pass.  Signed by 3 members:  Representatives Tate, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Hargrove; and Hochstatter. 

Staff:  David Knutson (786-7146).

Background:  Teenagers who drop out of school are at increased risk of living in poverty as adults. Similarly, teen mothers are more likely to drop out of school, become separated or divorced, and live in poverty as an adult.  Children of teen parents often achieve lower academic achievement and repeat their mother's behavior of early childbearing. 

Summary of Bill:  A grant program is established in the Department of Social and Health Services to fund six community-based projects for teenagers.  The programs will offer health screening and referrals; employment search and job training; mental health counseling; substance abuse treatment; and family counseling.  Additional service needs at the community level may be addressed through the projects or through referral to other organizations.  A local match is required for projects funded through this act.  Projects may be funded for two-year periods, within available funds.  An independent evaluation of the six projects is required by December 1, 1993, and in every odd numbered year thereafter.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  Literacy programs are added to the types of services which can be provided through community mobilization grant programs.  Libraries are added to the list of community programs who can submit proposals for funding through the community mobilization program.  Health screening and referrals cannot include the distribution of contraceptives.  Pregnant teenagers must be referred to programs, through the community mobilization program, which primarily emphasize healthy birth outcomes.

Fiscal Note:  Requested February 1, 1991.

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

Testimony For:  Teenagers face increasing substance abuse, juvenile crime, school dropouts and teen pregnancy.  Collaborative efforts at the local level, to address these problems, is the best approach.  This program will prepare teenagers to maintain healthy lifestyles and successfully enter the job market or pursue a degree through higher education.

Testimony Against:  The Department of Social and Health Services cannot support this legislation because funding for it is not included in the governor's 1991-1993 biennial budget request.

Witnesses:  Stephanie Carter, Washington Prosecuting Attorneys Association; Karla Siedschlag, Family Counseling of Snohomish County; Marion Davis, Snohomish County Children's Commission; Laurie Lippold, Children's Home Society; Colleen Waterhouse, Department of Social and Health Services (con); Terry Nelson, Beth Taylor, Jane Johnson, Clark County Youth Initiative; Joan Oireaney, Chanelle Mondack, Matt Thatcher, Northwest Youth Services; Steve Daschle, Southwest Youth and Family Services; and Peter Berliner, Children's Alliance.