SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SHB 2316

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

        Human Services & Corrections, February 23, 1996

Title:  An act relating to siting juvenile correctional facilities.

Brief Description:  Providing a procedure for siting juvenile correctional facilities.

Sponsors:  House Committee on Corrections (originally sponsored by Representatives Ballasiotes, Dyer, Radcliff, Lambert, D. Schmidt, Blanton, Robertson, L. Thomas, Elliot, McMahan and Thompson).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Human Services & Corrections:  2/15/96, 2/23/96 [DPA].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES & CORRECTIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

  Signed by Senators Hargrove, Chair; Franklin, Vice Chair; Kohl, Long, Prentice, Schow, Smith, Strannigan, Thibaudeau and Zarelli.

Staff:  Jodi Walker (786-7464)

Background:  Current law requires the Department of Corrections (DOC) to utilize a process of informing and involving local communities when it establishes or relocates adult work release facilities and other community-based correctional facilities.  However, a similar public participation process is not required for the siting of juvenile correction facilities.

The Legislature intends to establish a community-centered, uniform, and appropriate process for siting juvenile correctional facilities in local communities.

Summary of Amended Bill:  The Department of Social and Health Services must establish a process for establishing or relocating public and private juvenile correctional facilities.  When siting a facility, the department must do the following:

(1)  Contact and coordinate with local government planning agencies before initiating the public participation process.

(2)  Initiate a process for public notification, hearings and dissemination of information.  This process must include:  (a) notification and public hearings when three or fewer sites have been chosen for final consideration,  and (b) additional notification and a public hearing in the local community selected as the final proposed site.  All public hearings must allow for public input, and notification must include a statement that input will be allowed.  Public meetings or hearings and notice required under local ordinances may be substituted for meetings and notification if consistent with other requirements of the act.

The department must also provide notice to the media, child-related facilities, the local chamber of commerce and economic development agencies, and all residents and property owners within a half mile radius of the siting.

Amended Bill Compared to Substitute Bill:  In the striking amendment, "public hearing" replaces "public meetings" to maintain consistency.  All public hearings must allow for citizen input, and notification must include a statement that input will be allowed.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  Placement of juvenile detention facilities is potentially disruptive to communities.  Contentious situations can be avoided if local public is involved.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Rep. Ballasiotes (pro).