HOUSE BILL REPORT
E2SHB 2319
As Passed House
February 21, 1994
Title: An act relating to violence prevention.
Brief Description: Enacting programs to reduce youth violence.
Sponsors: By House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Appelwick, Leonard, Johanson, Valle, Wang, Wineberry, Scott, Karahalios, Caver, Kessler, Basich, Wolfe, J. Kohl, Veloria, Quall, Holm, Jones, Shin, King, Patterson, Eide, Dellwo, L. Johnson, Springer, Pruitt, Ogden, H. Myers and Anderson; by request of Governor Lowry).
Brief History:
Reported by House Committee on:
Judiciary, February 3, 1994, DPS;
Appropriations, February 8, 1994, DP2S;
Passed House, February 21, 1994, 78-19.
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY
Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 15 members: Representatives Appelwick, Chair; Johanson, Vice Chair; Padden, Ranking Minority Member; Ballasiotes, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Campbell; Chappell; Eide; Forner; J. Kohl; Long; Morris; Schmidt; Scott; Tate and Wineberry.
Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 1 member: Representative H. Myers.
Staff:Bill Perry (786-7123).
Pat Shelledy (786-7149).
Margaret Allen (786-7191).
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Majority Report: The second substitute bill be substituted therefor and the second substitute bill do pass. Signed by 27 members: Representatives Sommers, Chair; Valle, Vice Chair; Silver, Ranking Minority Member; Carlson, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Appelwick; Ballasiotes; Basich; Cooke; Dellwo; Dorn; Dunshee; G. Fisher; Foreman; Jacobsen; Lemmon; Leonard; Linville; H. Myers; Peery; Rust; Sehlin; Sheahan; Stevens; Talcott; Wang; Wineberry and Wolfe.
Staff: Victor Moore (786-7143).
Robert Butts (786-7111).
Dave Knutson (786-7146).
Kenny Pittman (786-7392).
Background: Violence committed by youth and directed toward youth is a serious problem affecting a large number of children and families. Causes of violence are complex and interrelated and cross economic and social boundaries. The incidence of child abuse, domestic violence, use of alcohol and drugs, poverty and the easy availability of firearms are all related in some manner to the level of violence in our communities.
Summary:
PART I
HUMAN SERVICES: PREVENTION AND
EARLY INTERVENTION
Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect
The Department of Health will coordinate and fund, with funds provided for this purpose, voluntary programs to help parents of newborn children. The type of activities to be funded include: screening prior to/or soon after the birth of a child; parenting education and skills development; parenting and family support information and referral; parent support groups; family visits; linking each family with a primary care provider; and service coordination. Organizations providing services will use professionals and paraprofessionals to conduct screenings and follow-up visits. If professionals and paraprofessional are unavailable, volunteers may be used if they meet minimum competency standards established by the Department of Health.
Community-Based Planning and Services for Children and Families
The Family Policy Council will coordinate a statewide system of planning and service delivery for children and their families. Community Family Councils will plan, coordinate, and ensure the delivery of services to children and their families at the local level. Community Family Councils will be able to apply for unrestricted state funds from a new children and family services fund for planning and technical assistance activities, and provide services to children and their families. They may also request the Family Policy Council to submit requests to the Legislature for its consideration, modification of statutory and categorical funding restrictions that apply to funds for services to children and their families.
Therapeutic Child Care
Therapeutic child care programs are authorized to provide transition services to children and their families who no longer receive therapeutic child care services at a therapeutic child care facility.
Before and After School Child Care
School districts or community-based organizations may operate before and after school child care programs for school-aged children. Programs will provide an alternative to unsupervised activities that put children at risk of lower academic achievement, emotional or social adjustment problems, substance abuse, gang activity, sexual activity and related problems.
Domestic Violence
Services provided through domestic violence shelters will, within available funds, be expanded to include services needed by children of domestic violence victims.
Suicide Prevention
The Department of Health will develop a plan for a state-wide suicide prevention program, if funds are provided for this purpose.
PART II
EDUCATION: TRAINING, SAFE SCHOOLS,
AND PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION
Educator Training and Assistance
The Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) shall prepare, or contract to prepare, a guide of available programs and strategies pertaining to conflict resolution and other violence prevention topics.
SPI shall contract with school districts, educational service districts, and approved in-service providers to conduct training sessions in conflict resolution and other violence prevention topics for school certificated and classified employees.
The State Board of Education (SBE) shall require teacher preparation programs to provide instruction in, or have educational outcomes pertaining to, the teaching of conflict resolution and other violence prevention skills.
Safe Schools/Safe Communities Grant Program
The Department of Community Development is to administer a Safe Schools/Safe Communities grant program that provides resources for community and school-based violence prevention initiatives. The grants may be used for Safe School Teams, employment assistance and readiness, parent involvement, referral services, and a number of other activities. Grants shall be awarded for three years, with a second series of grants awarded in 1996.
Career Ladders for At-risk Youth
SPI shall award start-up grants to provide extended day school-to-work transition options for secondary students who are at risk of academic failure and who have dropped out or who are enrolled full time at a home high school. Vocational skills centers, non-profit organizations, educational service districts, community and technical colleges, and school districts are eligible to receive grants.
The programs are to identify, recruit, and assess teens who have dropped out or who are at risk of academic failure; develop job-readiness and retention skills; equip students with vocational skills and abilities consistent with entry level employment in their chosen career field; prepare students to seek further education and training, if needed; assist students who have dropped out to obtain their high school diploma; and increase the availability of vocational programs during other than normal school hours.
Minor Work Rules
The Department of Labor and Industries is directed to accelerate its evaluation of the minor work rules that became effective in 1993. The department is to report to the Governor and the Legislature on its evaluation prior to the 1995 legislative session.
School Discipline and Safety
School district boards of directors may establish schools and programs with stringent dress and discipline codes and parental participation standards. School boards may require students who would otherwise be suspended or expelled to attend these schools, and parents may choose to have their children attend. If students are required to wear uniforms, school districts must accommodate students so that the uniform requirement is not an unfair barrier to school participation.
A Task Force on Student Conduct is created. The task force is to identify laws, rules and practices that make it difficult for educators to manage their classrooms and schools effectively. Based on its findings, the task force shall make recommendations regarding actions that could be taken to reduce the problems generated by disruptive students and thereby make schools more conducive to learning. The findings and recommendations of the task force shall be available by November 1, 1994.
Changes are made in the transfer of student records when students transfer to a new school. The changes allow school districts to retain official transcripts if the student has not paid fines or damaged school property.
School conduct shall be made a part of juvenile court diversion agreements.
SPI and the Attorney General, in cooperation with the Washington Bar Association, are to develop a volunteer-based conflict resolution and mediation program.
The State Board for Community and Technical Colleges and the Superintendent of Public Instruction are to establish a statewide toll-free hotline to provide information to high school dropouts and potential dropouts. The information to be provided includes information on financial aid, adult education courses and basic skills programs available at community and technical colleges.
Drug, Alcohol, and Violence Prevention and Intervention Program
The existing Drug and Alcohol Prevention and Intervention Grant Program, which was created in 1989, is expanded to include violence prevention.
PART III
COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT
Washington YouthBuild Program
The Washington YouthBuild Program is created in the Employment Security Department. The state may provide supplemental grants to organizations to implement a comprehensive program that provides education, job training, support services, leadership, entrepreneurial skills development and employment skills to economically disadvantaged youth. Organizations eligible to receive assistance through the Washington YouthBuild program are limited to those eligible to provide education and employment training under federal or state employment training programs.
The Department of Employment Security, in cooperation with the Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development, may make grants, equal to the lessor of $300,000 or 25 percent of the total project costs, to organizations that provide: (1) education and job skills training services and activities to meet the needs of the participant; (2) counseling services and related activities; (3) supportive services and need-based stipends to participants; (4) activities designed to develop employment and leadership skills; and (5) wage stipends and benefits to participants.
Participation is limited to an individual who: (1) is 16 to 24 years of age, inclusive; (2) has or is a member of a household with an income below 50 percent of the median income for the county; and (3) has dropped out of high school.
Applicants with projects that use the resources of the Housing Assistance Program to provide construction employment opportunities to disadvantaged youth under the YouthBuild program will be given preference for project funding.
The Washington State Job Training Coordinating Council will advise the Employment Security Department on the development and implementation of the YouthBuild program.
Community Empowerment Zone Program
The Neighborhood Reinvestment Area Program is renamed the Community Empowerment Zone Program. An area that receives federal designation as an empowerment zone or enterprise community can apply to the state for dual designation under the state's community empowerment zone program.
Community Empowerment Zone Incentives
--Tax Deferrals and Tax Credits for Business Investments/ Projects in Distressed Areas.
The term "neighborhood reinvestment areas" is replaced with "community empowerment zone" in the existing sales and use tax deferral program and business and occupation tax credit available under the distressed county program. Projects located in community empowerment zones require full-time employment positions to be filled with people who initially reside in the zone.
-- Community Empowerment Technical Assistance.
The Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development will provide technical assistance to support implementation of local community empowerment zone plans. The technical assistance includes, but is not limited to: commercial district revitalization techniques, technical and leadership skills training, and small business and entrepreneurial development.
--Youth Gangs.
The Gang Risk Prevention and Intervention Pilot Program is expanded to include local school districts or community organizations located in all communities. The state may provide additional grants and technical assistance to develop strategies designed to reduce the probability of youth gang activities at the local level.
--Community Policing Assistance.
The Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development may make grants to local governments to develop effective crime-fighting partnerships between law enforcement and the community. The community policing assistance grants are limited: (1) to local governments that have developed an overall plan or strategy to address crime and related problems in a community empowerment zone; (2) to community policing activities such as multi-disciplinary crime prevention teams, public education programs, neighborhood resource centers and foot patrols; and (3) up to 20 percent of salaries and fringe benefits of newly sworn law enforcement officers, excluding overtime, for a three-year period.
Community-Based Violence Prevention and Reduction
-- Violence Prevention and Intervention.
The Community Mobilization Against Substance Abuse Program is expanded to include grants to communities to develop violence prevention and intervention strategies. The program is moved from the Office of the Governor to the Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development.
-- Temporary Shelter for Homeless Unaccompanied Youth.
The Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development can make loans and grants to develop housing and supportive services for homeless, unaccompanied youth. The department must develop a plan to coordinate federal, state and local youth. The program expires July 1, 1995.
Fiscal Note: Requested February 9, 1994.
Effective Date: Sections 105 through 125, 301, 311 through 313, 317 through 328, and 401 shall take effect immediately. If specific funding for sections 101 through 132, 202 through 204, 207, 208, 302 through 310, 316 through 319 is not provided by June 30, 1994, these sections are null and void. The remaining sections take effect ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Testimony For: (Judiciary) The problem of violence committed by and against youth requires increased control of firearms' possession or use by juveniles. Penalties must be increased for crimes committed while armed with a deadly weapon to protect society from the most dangerous offenders. A curfew will give police an effective tool to reduce harm done to and by juveniles.
(Appropriations) This legislation provides a balanced approach to addressing youth violence and other problems facing children and their families through prevention and early intervention approaches. It is more cost effective and prudent to fund increased prevention and early intervention services rather than to increase punishment. Violence in our schools is a major issue that must be addressed: it is the number one issue for parents and teachers. We need a comprehensive approach that begins in the early grades. Conflict resolution training, increased discipline, and other violence prevention strategies have been proven to work.
Testimony Against: (Judiciary) Regulations on firearms only hinder law-abiding citizens from protecting themselves and their families from criminals. Curfews are unconstitutional and will result in selective enforcement that discriminates against minority groups.
(Appropriations) None.
Witnesses: (Judiciary) Dave LaCourse, Washington Citizens for Justice; Dwayne Slate, Washington State School Directors; R. Fuzzy Fletcher, King County Task Force on Responsible Gun Ownership; Mike Garner, Washington Ceasefire; Virginia Penn, Mothers Against Gangs; Gerald Rowland, President, Modern Firearm Hunters of Washington; Bob Fisher, Washington Education Association; Jon Halvorson, Mayor, city of Lacey; Barry Shaw, Washington Ceasefire; Alison Shaw, citizen; Steve Conway, citizen; Doc Remington Carlson, Northwest Militia; K. David Reynard, Kitsap Rifle and Revolver Club; Linda L. Everett, citizen; Ted Cowan, Washington State Rifle and Pistol Association; Tom Rolfs, Department of Corrections; Lupe Barkus, citizen; David Jensen, citizen; Representative Bill Reams; John Benedict, citizen; Al Woodbridge, Washington State Rifle and Pistol; Tim Sekerak, citizen; Brian Judy, citizen; Kay Godefroy, Executive Director, Seattle Neighborhood Group, Stop Youth Violence, King County Task Force on Responsible Gun Ownership; Col. Mel Pfankvche, Col. Mel Pfankvche and Associates, Inc.; Sarah Shelton, citizen; Laurie Lippold, Children's Alliance; George Aiton, Washington Arms Collectors; Curtis Hays, citizen; Mark E. Duxbury, citizen; David Thomsen, citizen; Chris Stearns, citizen; Paul Williams, Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms; Greg Dahlgren, Gun Owners of America; John Hubbard, Washington State Rifle and Pistol Association; Kim Childress, Mothers Against Gangs; Jerry Sheehan, American Civil Liberties Union; Mike Patrick, Washington State Association of Police Officers; Kurt Sharar, Washington State Association of Counties; Representative Steve Conway; John Kvamme, Tacoma Public Schools; Jim Justin, Association of Washington Cities; and Thomas Dunne, Society of Counsel.
(Appropriations) Chris Parsons, Peace Action of Washington; Jean Wessman, Washington Association of Counties; Priscilla Lisicich, Safe Streets; Darlene Flowers, Foster Parent Association of Washington; Mayhen Ryherd Keira, Human Services Roundtable; Laurie Lippold, Children's Alliance; Karen Davis, Washington Education Association; Judy Turpin, Childhaven; Lonnie-Johns Brown, National Organization for Women; Lewis Andrews, Puget Sound Education Service District; John Liulamaga, Seattle Samoan Center; Lis Merten, Washington Nurses Association; Margaret Casey, Washington Association of Juvenile Court Administrators and Washington State Catholic Conference; Susan Crowley, city of Seattle; and Stephanie Cline, Children's Home Society of Washington (all pro).