HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 ESHB 2026

                  As Amended by the Senate

Title:  An act relating to notice about fetal alcohol syndrome.

Brief Description:  Requiring notice about fetal alcohol syndrome.

Sponsors:  By House Committee on Commerce & Labor (originally sponsored by Representatives Karahalios, Wood, Leonard and Kessler.)

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Commerce & Labor, March 3, 1993, DPS;

Appropriations, March 5, 1993, DPS(CL-A APP);

  Passed House, March 13, 1993, 96-0;

Amended by Senate.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & LABOR

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 9 members:  Representatives Heavey, Chair; G. Cole, Vice Chair; Lisk, Ranking Minority Member; Chandler, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Conway; Horn; King; Springer; and Veloria.

Staff:  Jim Kelley (786-7166).

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Majority Report:  The substitute bill by Committee on Commerce & Labor be substituted therefor and the substitute bill as amended by Committee on Appropriations do pass.  Signed by 26 members:  Representatives Locke, Chair; Valle, Vice Chair; Silver, Ranking Minority Member; Carlson, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Appelwick; Ballasiotes; Basich; Cooke; Dellwo; Dorn; Dunshee; G. Fisher; Jacobsen; Lemmon; Leonard; Linville; Morton; Peery; Rust; Sehlin; Sheahan; Stevens; Talcott; Wang; Wineberry; and Wolfe.

Staff:  Beth Redfield (786-7130).

Background:  Fetal alcohol syndrome is the third leading cause of mental retardation in the United States.  Approximately 145 babies are born in Washington each year with fetal alcohol syndrome.

Summary of Bill:  The Liquor Control Board is required to post in a conspicuous place within each state liquor store a notice warning women that drinking alcohol during pregnancy can cause birth defects, including fetal alcohol syndrome and fetal alcohol effects.

EFFECT OF SENATE AMENDMENT(S): The warning to be posted by the board in state liquor stores must be in print not less than one inch high.  The notice shall warn persons that consumption of alcohol shortly before conception or during pregnancy may cause birth defects, including fetal alcohol syndrome and fetal alcohol effects.

A new provision is added directing the secretary of the Department of Social and Health Services, through the Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse, to develop and promote statewide secondary prevention strategies designed to increase the use of alcohol and drug treatment services by women of childbearing age, before, during, and immediately after pregnancy.

The new program shall include the development of four pilot "pretreatment" projects, two of which shall be in urban areas and two in rural areas.  Two of the projects will be located in public health department clinics that provide maternity services, one in a county correctional facility, and one in a domestic violence program.  The secretary is authorized to hire four certified chemical dependency counselors to work in the four projects.  The counselor for the Domestic Violence Program shall also be trained in domestic violence issues.

The duties and activities of the counselors shall include:  (1) identifying substance-using pregnant women in the pretreatment projects; (2) educating the women and agency staff on the health effects of alcohol and drugs; (3) determining the extent of the women's substance use; (4) evaluating the need for treatment; (5) making referrals for chemical dependency treatment if indicated; (6) facilitating the women's entry into treatment; and (7) advocating on the client's behalf with other social service agencies or others to coordinate clients into treatment.

The secretary is required to ensure that administrative costs of the department are limited to 10 percent of the funds appropriated for the project.  The sum of $50,000 is appropriated to the Department of Social and Health Services to fund the pretreatment projects.

Fiscal Note:  Requested March 1, 1993.

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

Testimony For:  (Commerce & Labor) Fetal alcohol syndrome is a very serious problem.  This is nothing more than a good first step toward addressing the problem.  The Liquor Control Board can administer the bill as long as the money is provided.

(Appropriations) None.

Testimony Against:  (Commerce & Labor) None.

(Appropriations) None.

Witnesses:  (Commerce & Labor) Representative Karahalios, Prime Sponsor (in favor); Ken Stark, Department of Social and Health Services (in favor); and Carter Mitchell, Liquor Control Board (neutral).

(Appropriations) None.

VOTE ON FINAL PASSAGE:

Yeas 96; Excused 2

Excused:  Representatives Dorn, Miller