H-0288

AN ACT Relating to the establishment and operation of safe houses for runaway and street youth; adding new sections to chapter 74.13 RCW; creating a new section; making an appropriation; and declaring an emergency.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) The legislature finds that runaway and street youth have essential needs that must be addressed if they are to be successfully reunited with their families or transitioned into independent living. The legislature further finds that one of these essential needs is for safe housing.

(2) It is the intent of sections 2 and 3 of this act to provide for the establishment and operation of safe houses in several Washington cities that will offer a safe and sober environment for troubled youth, in which those youths can be housed safely and obtain nonjudgmental support and assistance.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 74.13 RCW to read as follows:

The department shall award grants for the establishment and operation of safe houses for runaway and street youth up to eighteen years of age. Applications for safe house funding shall include at least the following assurances:

(1) The anonymity of youth using the safe house will be protected;

(2) The safe house will be drug and alcohol free at all times;

(3) The average length of stay for youth using the safe house will be fourteen days;

(4) Counseling will be available at the safe house in a manner that ensures substantial contact with staff. Such services may be provided through contracts with existing youth service providers;

(5) Safe house staff will be encouraged to assist youth using the house to reconcile with their families, or if reconciliation is not appropriate, to develop more permanent living arrangements;

(6) Referrals to other needed services will be made through written interagency agreements with community-based youth service providers;

(7) Safe house staff will not accept referrals from the department for placement of youths who are dependents in the child protective services or child welfare service systems;

(8) The safe house will not have more than ten beds; and

(9) The safe house will maintain compliance with applicable licensing and state and local building and safety codes.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 74.13 RCW to read as follows:

(1) Grants for the establishment and operation of safe houses shall be made competitively based upon compliance with the assurances provided in section 2 of this act and information provided in applications for funding. Preference in awarding grants shall be given to existing youth serving agencies.

(2) Grants shall be made for the establishment and operation of a minimum of five safe houses located in Seattle, Tacoma, Spokane, Yakima, and Vancouver. To the extent funding is available, grants may be made for five additional safe houses.

(3) Twenty-five percent of the funding for safe houses under this section and section 2 of this act shall be community matching funds provided by private or public entities in the communities requesting funding. Contributions of materials, supplies, physical facilities, or volunteer time may be considered as all or part of the funding provided by the communities.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. The sum of three million three hundred thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the general fund to the department of social and health services, for the biennium ending June 30, 1993, for grants for the establishment and operation of safe houses at a cost of approximately three thousand dollars per bed per month.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. 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.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.