HOUSE BILL REPORT

                   HB 2232

              As Reported By House Committee On:

                        Human Services

Title:  An act relating to therapeutic child care services.

Brief Description:  Funding therapeutic child care services.

Sponsors:  Representatives Patterson, Cooke, H. Myers, Conway, Roland, L. Johnson, Brough, J. Kohl, Wineberry and Thibaudeau.

Brief History:

     Reported by House Committee on:

Human Services, January 27, 1994, DPS.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 11 members:  Representatives Leonard, Chair; Thibaudeau, Vice Chair; Cooke, Ranking Minority Member; Talcott, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Brown; Caver; Karahalios; Lisk; Padden; Patterson and Wolfe.

Staff:  Dave Knutson (786-7146).

Background:  Therapeutic child care services are provided to children who have been abused or neglected.  Ongoing therapeutic child care services are not currently provided  for children who leave the program and are living with their parents, other family members, or in foster care.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  Therapeutic child care services are expanded to include transitional services such as parent instruction and counseling in the home for children and families no longer being served in the therapeutic child care facility.  The 1993-95 biennial budget is amended to include $600,000 of the general fund state appropriation solely to provide new transitional services for children and families who no longer receive therapeutic child care services at the program site.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The proviso to the biennial appropriation for children and family services for therapeutic child care transition services is replaced as an appropriation in the same amount.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Appropriation:   Six hundred thousand dollars from the general fund state appropriation.

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

Testimony For:  Children who leave therapeutic child care facilities and return home will benefit from ongoing support services.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Debra C. Klein, Childhaven (pro); Clarine Roe, Childhaven (pro); Becky Fontaine, Washington Children's Learning Centers (pro); and Anona Joseph, Department of Social and Health Services (pro).