HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 ESHB 1390

                       As Passed House

                       March 14, 1991

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

Brief Description:  Creating a community mobilization program for teens.

Sponsor(s):  By House Committee on Human Services (originally sponsored by 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;

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

Passed House, March 14, 1991, 73-24.

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).

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 29 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; Fuhrman; Hine; Lisk; May; McLean; Mielke; Nealey; Peery; Pruitt; Rust; H. Sommers; Sprenkle; Valle; Vance; Wang; and Wineberry.

Staff:  Maureen Morris (786-7152).

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 up to six community-based projects for teenagers.  The programs, if funded, 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, 1994, and in every even numbered year thereafter.

Fiscal Note:  Requested March 11, 1991.

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

Testimony For:  (Human Services) 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 For:  (Appropriations) Teens need to be served in a manner that meets their needs and on their own terms.  This bill would help overcome current barriers to service.  Coordination of existing services will make an important difference.  The price of failing to reach and serve teens effectively is high.

Testimony Against:  (Human Services) 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.

Testimony Against:  (Appropriations) None.

Witnesses:  (Human Services) 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.

Witnesses:  (Appropriations) Representative Lorraine Hine; Representative June Leonard; Laurie Lippold, Children's Home Society; Lonnie Johns-Brown; and Carol Clark, Division of Children and Family Services (supports concept but funds for this program are not in the governor's budget).