SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5256

               As Passed Senate, March 13, 1995

Title:  An act relating to revising the list of programs to be reviewed by community networks for possible decategorization.

Brief Description:  Revising the list of programs to be reviewed by community networks for possible decategorization.

Sponsors:  Senator Owen.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Human Services & Corrections:  1/26/95, 2/28/95 [DP-WM].

Ways & Means:  3/3/95, 3/6/95 [DP].

Passed Senate, 3/13/95, 48-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES & CORRECTIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

  Signed by Senators Hargrove, Chair; Franklin, Vice Chair; Fairley, Kohl, Long, Moyer, Palmer, Prentice, Schow, Smith and Strannigan.

Staff:  Andrea McNamara (786-7483)

Background:  In 1994, the Legislature authorized the Family Policy Council to establish a statewide system of community public health and safety networks.  The networks are designed to assist communities in developing long-term, comprehensive plans to reduce the rates of at-risk youths and the problems associated with them, such as violent and criminal behavior, substance abuse, teen pregnancy, suicide, and school dropouts. 

The council and networks are directed to review biennially the feasibility and desirability of decategorizing a variety of state and federally funded programs.  If the council's recommendations are adopted by the Legislature, the funds currently allocated to those programs selected will be granted to the networks instead.

Summary of Bill:  Community mobilization programs are removed from the list of programs to be reviewed by the networks and council for the feasibility and desirability of decategorization.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  At the time the original legislation establishing community public health and safety networks was passed, there was an agreement that community mobilization programs would not be included in the list of programs to be reviewed for possible decategorization.  These programs are having an effect on substance abuse and need to be able to continue their good work with certainty of continued funding.

Testimony Against:  The unintended effect of removing community mobilization programs from the list of programs that must be renewed might be to exclude them from examination altogether.  Sufficient safeguards exist within the community network process to recognize, honor, and protect those programs that have proven successful.  All programs, including successful programs, need to be reviewed and scrutinized.

Testified:  Senator Brad Owen, D-35th Dist. (pro); David Brenna, Staff Director, Family Policy Council (con); Marti Wall, Skagit Community Network (con); Rob Bean, Mid-East King County Community Network (con); Paolo Maranan, Children's Alliance (with concerns).

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Rinehart, Chair; Bauer, Cantu, Drew, Finkbeiner, Fraser, Gaspard, Hargrove, Hochstatter, Johnson, Long, McDonald, Moyer, Pelz, Roach, Sheldon, Snyder, Strannigan, Sutherland, West and Winsley.

Staff:  Brenda Hood (786-7431)

Testimony For:  None.

Testimony Against:  This bill should not remove one item from the list, it should remove the entire list.  The community networks should look at all programs, and this bill sends the message that perhaps the community mobilization program is not reviewable by the community networks.

Testified:  Margaret Casey, WSCC (con); Laurie Lippold, Family Policy Council (con).