HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1859

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                       Human Services

Title:  An act relating to the establishment and operation of short-term emergency services including shelter for runaway and street youth.

Brief Description:  Establishing short‑term emergency services for runaways.

Sponsors:  Representatives Brown, Leonard, Foreman, Karahalios, L. Johnson, Lemmon, Cothern, Long, King, Jones and Patterson.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Human Services, March 1, 1993, DPS.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 6 members:  Representatives Leonard, Chair; Riley, Vice Chair; Brown; Karahalios; Thibaudeau; and Wolfe.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  Signed by 4 members:  Representatives Cooke, Ranking Minority Member; Talcott, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Lisk; and Padden.

Staff:  David Knutson (786-7146).

Background:  Runaway youth and children from families in conflict are currently served in short term crisis residential centers.  Crisis residential centers limit stays to five days.  The state currently funds the total cost of operating crisis residential centers.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  The Department of Social and Health Services is authorized to fund shelters for runaway and homeless youth.  Local government must provide a 50 percent match for the state funds.  The youth may stay at the shelter for up to 20 days.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The requirement that the department contract with local government to operate youth shelters is removed.  The department is required to distribute funding based on a geographically equitable basis.  The $3 million appropriation is removed.

Fiscal Note:  Requested.

Appropriation:  Appropriation is removed by substitute.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill:  The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

Testimony For:  There is a need for additional shelters to serve homeless and runaway youth.  The state and local governments should act in partnership to expand the availability of shelter space for youth.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  (Pro) Representative Brown, Prime Sponsor; Roberta Leonardy, Kitsap Commission on Children and Youth; Ruth Kagi, Seattle Commission on Children and Youth; Liz Dalton, Department of Social and Health Services; and Chief John Turner, Mountlake Police Force.