HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 ESHB 2477

                       As Passed House

                      February 17, 1992

Title:  An act relating to chemical dependency services for sexual assault and domestic violence victims.

Brief Description:  Providing chemical dependency services for sexual assault and domestic violence victims.

Sponsor(s):  By House Committee on Human Services (originally sponsored by Representatives Bray, Forner, Ebersole, Ludwig, Appelwick, H. Myers, Riley, Leonard, R. King, Anderson, Hargrove, Wynne, Sprenkle, J. Kohl, Pruitt and Rasmussen).

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Human Services, February 6, 1992, DPS;

Appropriations, February 10, 1992, DPS(HS-A APP);

Passed House, February 17, 1992, 98-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

HUMAN SERVICES

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 11 members:  Representatives Leonard, Chair; Riley, Vice Chair; Winsley, Ranking Minority Member; Tate, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Anderson; Beck; Brekke; Hargrove; Hochstatter; R. King; and H. Myers.

Staff:  Melissa Pailthorp (786-7118).

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 26 members:  Representatives Locke, Chair; Inslee, Vice Chair; Spanel, Vice Chair; Silver, Ranking Minority Member; Morton, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Appelwick; Belcher; Bowman; Braddock; Brekke; Carlson; Dorn; Ferguson; Fuhrman; Hine; Lisk; May; Mielke; Nealey; Pruitt; Rust; D. Sommers; H. Sommers; Sprenkle; Valle; and Wang.

Staff:  Wayne Kawakami (786-7384).

Background:  According to human service professionals, the connection between substance abuse and sexual abuse is increasingly apparent.  Often, when victims of abuse receive counseling services, their substance abuse is not recognized.  Similarly, substance abusers may receive treatment for chemical dependency, but are not recognized as assault victims.  Many professionals believe that identifying the relationship between these problems is essential to breaking the cycle of abuse.

Summary of Bill:  The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) is required to develop a curriculum for chemical dependency counselors, staff and volunteer workers of domestic violence programs, childhood sexual abuse programs, and sexual assault programs.  The curriculum will train volunteer workers and staff together in the same setting.

The department will select two sites in the state for first year training sites.  The sites must have chemical dependency, sexual assault, childhood sexual abuse, and domestic violence programs. By January 1, 1994, the department will review the program and make any necessary modifications.

An appropriation of $25,000 is made from the state drug enforcement and education account to DSHS to develop the curriculum and provide training.                  

Fiscal Note:  Requested January 24, 1992.

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

Appropriation:  An appropriation of $25,000 is made from the state drug enforcement and education account to DSHS for development of the curriculum and the first year of the program.

Testimony For:  (Human Services):  Human services professionals are seeing the connection between substance abuse and sexual assault victims more and more frequently.  This curriculum will educate counselors in each of these areas about the linking issues between substance abuse and sexual assault, allowing them to better serve their clients.

(Appropriations):  None.

Testimony Against:  (Human Services):  None.

(Appropriations):  None.

Witnesses:  (Human Services):  Representative Bray, Prime Sponsor; Mary Panorillo, Washington Coalition Against Domestic Violence; Lonnie Johns-Brown, Washington Coalition for Sexual Assault Victims and National Organization of Women; and Ken Stark, Alcohol and Drug Addiction Treatment Services (ADATSA).

(Appropriations):  None.