HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 92-4780, by Representatives Appelwick, McLean, Padden, Ebersole and Leonard

    WHEREAS, The number of juvenile offenders committed to the department of social and health services is projected to rise over the next ten years; and

    WHEREAS, The five existing institutions housing juvenile offenders need extensive renovation, repair, or demolition followed by new construction; and

    WHEREAS, The five existing institutions housing juvenile offenders are located in areas of the state far removed from major population centers; and

    WHEREAS, The five existing institutions are all located west of the crest of the Cascade Mountains; and

    WHEREAS, Juvenile offenders from eastern Washington serve their sentences in institutions far from their home community and family;

    NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives request the department of social and health services to study the feasibility of redistributing a portion of its existing institutional beds to regionally based facilities designed to house juvenile offenders committed to the custody of the department.  If the department elects to conduct the study, it should include (1) a siting plan and schedule for siting and developing regional facilities, and (2) an operating and capital cost analysis of constructing regional facilities compared to renovating and rebuilding existing facilities.  If the department elects to conduct the study, it should submit it to the joint select committee of juvenile issues and the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the House of Representatives by September 1, 1992; and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives to the secretary of the department of social and health services.