H-1137

AN ACT Relating to education; creating new sections; providing an expiration date; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that an increasing number of children are entering the state's public schools with learning impairments caused by the use of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco by their mothers during pregnancy. Many of these children suffer from mental retardation, poor social abilities, low cognitive skills, attention deficit disorders, hyperactivity, or speech problems.

The legislature further finds that educating these children will require additional resources, and perhaps new educational strategies and techniques. The extent of these additional resources and the most appropriate strategies and techniques are not known at this time. If additional resources are not provided, teachers will be required to devote significant time to these students to the detriment of other children in the classroom.

The legislature further finds that many of these learning impairments are preventable, and that increased parental education on the effects of substance abuse during pregnancy would aid in reducing the number of children with learning impairments.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. The task force on the children of substance abusers is created. The task force shall:

(1) Identify the current and projected number of children in Washington who have learning impairments caused by mothers who abused alcohol or drugs during pregnancy, and the number who are in, or will be entering, Washington's public schools. The task force shall also investigate the nature of the special needs of these children;

(2) Review current social service and public school programs to address the special needs of these children, and prepare an analysis of the adequacy of these programs;

(3) Review current educational and treatment programs designed to reduce substance abuse during pregnancy, and prepare an analysis of the adequacy of these programs; and

(4) Develop recommendations and a plan of implementation for enhancing, enlarging, or replacing the existing social service and educational programs for these children and their parents.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. (1) Membership on the task force shall include representatives from the:

(a) Senate, one each from the majority and minority parties, selected by the president of the senate;

(b) House of representatives, one each from the majority and minority parties, selected by the speaker of the house of representatives;

(d) Department of health;

(e) County health departments;

(f) Department of social and health services;

(g) University of Washington's center for child development and mental retardation;

(h) Washington education association;

(i) Association of Washington school principals;

(j) Washington state school directors' association;

(k) Washington association of school administrators;

(l) Washington state parent-teachers association;

(m) Learning disability association of Washington;

(n) Department of community development;

(o) Chemical dependency associations, limited to one representative; and

(p) Private advocacy groups serving families and children, limited to one representative.

(2) Organizations shall select their respective representatives. The task force shall select a chair from among its members at its first meeting.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. Staff support for the task force shall be provided by the office of the superintendent of public instruction.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. The task force shall report its final findings and recommendations to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature before December 1, 1991.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. This act shall expire December 31, 1991.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately.