HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 2SHB 1882

                      As Passed House:

                       March 15, 1995

Title:  An act relating to an inspector general.

Brief Description:  Creating the position of inspector general in the Washington state patrol.

Sponsors:  By House Committee on Appropriations  (originally sponsored by Representatives Stevens and Boldt).

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Children & Family Services:  2/21/95, 2/28/95 [DPS];

Appropriations:  3/4/95 [DP2S(w/o sub CFS)].

Floor Activity:

Passed House:  3/15/95, 65-32.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 8 members:  Representatives Cooke, Chairman; Lambert, Vice Chairman; Stevens, Vice Chairman; Boldt; Buck; Carrell; Padden and Tokuda.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  Signed by 3 members:  Representatives Thibaudeau, Ranking Minority Member; Brown, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; and Patterson.

Staff:  David Knutson (786-7146).

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Majority Report:  The second substitute bill be substituted therefor and the second substitute bill do pass and do not pass the substitute bill by Committee on Children & Family Services.  Signed by 18 members:  Representatives Silver, Chairman; Huff, Vice Chairman; Pelesky, Vice Chairman; Beeksma; Brumsickle; Chappell; Cooke; Crouse; Foreman; Grant; Hargrove; Hickel; Lambert; Lisk; McMorris; Reams; Sheahan and Talcott.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  Signed by 9 members:  Representatives Sommers, Ranking Minority Member; Valle, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Carlson; G. Fisher; Jacobsen; Poulsen; Rust; Thibaudeau and Wolfe.

Staff:  Jim Lux (786-7152).

Background:  Complaints regarding the manner in which the Department of Social and Health Services conducts child abuse and neglect investigations and interacts with families are often made to the department.  The department is required to use an informal, nonadversarial complaint resolution process to respond to complaints.  Citizens with complaints against the Department of Social and Health Services are often distrustful of a complaint resolution process controlled by the department.

Summary of Bill:  An Inspector General is created in the Washington State Patrol.  The Inspector General will provide oversight of the Department of Social and Health Services with particular emphasis on allegations of improper family intervention and other improper action or coercion by the department.   The Inspector General and his or her authority will expire on July 1, 1997, unless extended by law. 

The legislation will be null and void unless specifically referenced in the omnibus appropriations act by June 30, 1995.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date of Bill:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.  If the legislation is not specifically referenced in the omnibus appropriations act by June 30, 1995, it is null and void.

Testimony For:  (Children & Family Services)  The Washington State Patrol is a good organizational choice for an Inspector General to investigate the Department of Social and Health Services.

(Appropriations)  None.

Testimony Against:  (Children & Family Services)  None.

(Appropriations)  None.

Testified:  (Children & Family Services)  Thomas Sharkey (pro); Donna Becraft, Parents Educating Parents (pro); Reverend Jerry and Brenda Ruland, J. &  B. Ministries (pro); Rebecca Mustard, Parents Educating Parents (pro); Deni Mathiesen (pro), Rita Drohman, citizen (pro) and Tim Ericksen, Washington State Patrol (pro).

(Appropriations)  None.