HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 EHB 1228

                       As Passed House

                        March 9, 1993

Title:  An act relating to the definition of a juvenile justice or care agency.

Brief Description:  Allowing information exchange of all agencies, including schools, with youth in their care.

Sponsors:  Representatives Jones, Miller, Riley, Vance, Kessler, Basich, Karahalios and Leonard.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Human Services, March 3, 1993, DPA;

  Passed House, March 9, 1993, 95-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.  Signed by 10 members:  Representatives Riley, Vice Chair; Cooke, Ranking Minority Member; Talcott, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Brown; Karahalios; Lisk; Padden; Patterson; Thibaudeau; and Wolfe.

Staff:  David Knutson (786-7146).

Background: Juvenile justice or care agencies provide care, treatment, and services to youth who commit or are alleged to commit, juvenile offenses.  Records relating to the commission of juvenile offenses may be shared by juvenile justice or child care agencies when an investigation or case involving the juvenile in question is being pursued by the other agency or when that other agency is assigned the responsibility of supervising the juvenile. The definition of a juvenile justice or care agency includes police, diversion units, court, prosecuting attorney, defense attorney, detention center, attorney general, the Department of Social and Health Services and its contracting agencies, and persons or public or private agencies having children committed to their custody.  The definition does not include schools.

Summary of Bill:  The definition of a juvenile justice or care agency is modified to include schools.

Fiscal Note:  Requested January 26, 1993.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  Schools need access to information available to juvenile justice or care agencies to protect students and staff and better serve some students.

Testimony Against:  Schools should not have access to the full array of information available to juvenile justice or care agencies.

Witnesses:  Representative Jones, Prime Sponsor (Pro); Jerry Sheehan, American Civil Liberties Union of Washington (Con); and Margaret Casey, The Children's Alliance (Pro);