H-0730.1 _______________________________________________
HOUSE BILL 1425
_______________________________________________
State of Washington 52nd Legislature 1991 Regular Session
By Representatives Brekke, Winsley and Leonard.
Read first time January 29, 1991. Referred to Committee on Human Services.
AN ACT Relating to the commission on runaway children; creating new sections; and providing an expiration date.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. In 1979 the legislature enacted procedures for families in conflict to address the problems of children who run away from their families. Although the statute has been amended several times in the past twelve years, a comprehensive study of the effectiveness of its procedures has never been undertaken. Therefore, the legislature finds that it is appropriate and timely that a comprehensive study be conducted to review the operation of the statute in light of the changing nature and needs of these children and their families. To ensure that the state of Washington has progressive and effective procedures for addressing the problems of runaway children, the legislature finds that a review commission consisting of persons with experience and expertise in the area of family conflict should be established.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. (1) The commission on runaway children is established and shall consist of the following members:
(a) Four legislators, one from each caucus in the house of representatives selected by the speaker of the house of representatives and one from each caucus in the senate selected by the president of the senate;
(b) One superior court judge with experience in dealing with runaway children and families in conflict, selected by the Washington state superior court judges association;
(c) One prosecuting attorney with experience in dealing with runaway children and families in conflict, selected by the Washington association of prosecuting attorneys;
(d) One member representing either cities or counties, selected by the executive committee;
(e) One member of the department of social and health services who has experience and expertise in dealing with runaway children and families in conflict, selected by the secretary of social and health services to represent the department;
(f) One mental health specialist familiar with mental health issues commonly affecting runaway children, selected by the executive committee;
(g) One attorney whose practice regularly includes the filing of alternative residential placement or at-risk youth petitions, selected by the Washington state bar association;
(h) One member appointed by the governor's juvenile justice advisory committee;
(i) One member who currently serves as a law enforcement official, appointed by the executive committee;
(j) Three citizen members appointed by the executive committee; and
(k) Two members representing private youth-serving agencies, appointed by the alliance for children, youth, and families.
(2) The four legislative members shall serve on the executive committee of the commission and shall select a chair from the membership of the commission.
(3) The commission shall be staffed by the department of social and health services.
(4) The commission members shall receive no compensation. Legislators shall be reimbursed for their travel expenses as provided in RCW 44.04.120. Other members of the commission shall be reimbursed for travel expenses as provided in RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.
(5) The commission may receive appropriations, grants, gifts, and other payments from any governmental or other public or private entity or person. Funds received may be used to defray operational costs or to contract for technical services, subject to the approval of the senate committee on facilities and operations and the house of representatives executive rules committee.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. The commission on runaway children shall conduct a comprehensive review of the implementation of the procedures for families in conflict act of 1979 both as it functioned in the 1980's and as it is currently functioning under the revised 1990 statute. The commission shall review these statutes in conjunction with the dependency provisions of chapter 13.34 RCW. The commission shall:
(a) Conduct a programmatic evaluation of the alternative residential placement program, the crisis residential center program, and the family reconciliation program;
(b) Critique the effectiveness of services provided by family reconciliation services, crisis residential centers, and the alternative residential placement program;
(c) Examine the current and preferred role of law enforcement;
(d) Report on the use and effectiveness of at-risk youth petitions;
(e) Examine the relationship between children who run away from their families and the need for dependency filings under chapter 13.34 RCW;
(f) Report on current methods of treatment that have proven effective in reconciling families with runaway children where there is no cause for a dependency filing; and
(g) Evaluate the performance of the department of social and health services in implementing the provisions of chapters 13.32A and 13.34 RCW.
(2) In guiding the commission in its review, the legislature reaffirms its declaration that the family should be nurtured as the fundamental resource for children in our society and that the family should remain intact unless a child's right to conditions of basic nurture, health, or safety is jeopardized.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. The commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature by January 15, 1993.