HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1714

             As Reported By House Committee on:

                       Human Services

                       Appropriations

Title:  An act relating to family support centers.

Brief Description:  Providing support for families in timber communities.

Sponsor(s):  Representatives Riley, Beck, Leonard, Winsley, Anderson, R. King, Hargrove, H. Myers, Jacobsen, Franklin, Roland, Zellinsky, Phillips, Jones, Rasmussen, Paris, Orr, Inslee, Basich, Sheldon, Morris and Wineberry.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Human Services, February 28, 1991, DPS;

Appropriations, March 10, 1991, DPS(HS)-A.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

HUMAN SERVICES

Majority Report: That Substitute House Bill No. 1714 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 10 members:  Representatives Leonard, Chair; Riley, Vice Chair; Winsley, Ranking Minority Member; Tate, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Anderson; Beck; Brekke; Hochstatter; R. King; and H. Myers.

Staff:  David Knutson (786-7146).

Background:  The Washington Council for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect, currently funds family support centers in Spokane and Omak.  They provide parent support services and other services identified through a local needs assessment.  Family support centers help parents and families deal with the stress and problems associated with job loss, economic dislocation and other related situations.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  The Washington Council for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect will contract for the operation of family support centers in additional communities around the state.  The council will use a portion of the funds provided to contract for family support centers in Port Townsend, Port Angeles and Aberdeen.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The appropriation is increased by $375,000.  Additional family support centers will be operated in Cowlitz, Wakiakum, and Skamania counties and two other timber communities selected by the council for the prevention of child abuse and neglect.

Fiscal Note:  Requested February 12, 1991.

Appropriation:  Yes.

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

Testimony For:  The dramatic reduction in timber supply will have a devastating impact in communities dependent on timber.  This will increase stress experienced by families in timber communities.  Family support centers are an effective means of helping families.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Mary Ellen O'Keefe, Family Resource Coalition of Washington; Margaret Casey, Children's Budget Alliance; Steve Lansing, Lutheran Public Policy Office; Laurie Lippold, Children's Home Society; Kip Tokuda, Washington Council for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect; and John Walsh, Community Action Council of Lewis, Mason, and Thurston Counties.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

APPROPRIATIONS

Majority Report: The substitute bill by Committee on Human Services be substituted therefor and the substitute bill as amended by Committee on Appropriations do pass.  Signed by 23 members:  Representatives Locke, Chair; Inslee, Vice Chair; Spanel, Vice Chair; Silver, Ranking Minority Member; Morton, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Appelwick; Belcher; Bowman; Braddock; Brekke; Dorn; Ebersole; Ferguson; Hine; Lisk; McLean; Peery; Pruitt; Rust; Sprenkle; Valle; Wang; and Wineberry.

Minority Report: Do not pass.  Signed by 2 members:  Representatives Fuhrman; and Nealey. 

Staff:  Susan Nakagawa (786-7145).

Summary of Recommendation of Committee on Appropriations Compared to Recommendation of Committee on Human Services:  Language is added clarifying that the council is to give priority to timber-dependent communities when establishing family support centers.  The council is given direction to give priority to applications for centers from communities experiencing high timber unemployment.  The appropriation is deleted.

Fiscal Note:  Requested March 8, 1991.

Appropriation:  Removed.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill As Amended:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  The legislation addresses the social needs in timber communities.  Additional Department of Social and Health Services' cases on the Olympic Peninsula demonstrate the need for additional family support centers.  The centers provide services in a cost-effective manner that respect the dignity of families.

Testimony Against:  The legislation represents good public policy, but is outside the budget as recommended by the governor.

Witnesses:  Representative Riley (prime sponsor); Representative Basich; Lori Lipold, Children's Home Society of Washington; (in support); and Rich Nafziger, Governor's Timber Team (against).