S-3371.1          _______________________________________________

                                 SENATE BILL 6214

                  _______________________________________________

State of Washington              52nd Legislature             1992 Regular Session

By Senator Roach

Read first time 01/22/92.  Referred to Committee on Children & Family Services.Commissioning a study of residential and treatment services.

     AN ACT Relating to public assistance; commissioning a study by the department of social and health services; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.      The department of social and health services shall conduct a planning study of the children in its care to determine the appropriate level of residential and treatment services required by these children.  The study shall be based on a statistically valid sample of all children in the department's care.  The study shall also estimate the treatment needs of youth who have been evaluated for a mental disorder but were not involuntarily detained pursuant to chapter 71.34 RCW.

     In conducting the study, the department shall utilize all existing studies to the extent possible.  The department shall report the results of the study to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature by September 15, 1992.  The department shall use the study results for designing future programs, treatment models, and for determining the reallocation of funds within the department.  The department shall submit recommendations to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature on the necessary reallocation of funds, as indicated by the assessment results, by January 1, 1993.