S-1179.1  _______________________________________________

                         SENATE BILL 5688

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      54th Legislature     1995 Regular Session

By Senators Hargrove, Long, Franklin, Rasmussen, C. Anderson, Kohl, Prentice, McAuliffe, Fairley, Drew, Smith, Heavey, Sheldon, Wojahn, Bauer and Winsley

Read first time 01/31/95.  Referred to Committee on Human Services & Corrections.

Improving screening for fetal alcohol syndrome.

    AN ACT Relating to fetal alcohol syndrome; adding new sections to chapter 43.70 RCW; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  The legislature finds that fetal alcohol syndrome is among the leading causes of mental deficiencies in the children of our state.  The legislature recognizes that public and private efforts must be increased to improve the early identification of and intervention into the problems associated with fetal alcohol syndrome.

    The legislature also finds that there is a great necessity for local screening programs that can identify children who have fetal alcohol syndrome.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 43.70 RCW to read as follows:

    The department of health, the department of social and health services, and the office of the superintendent of public instruction shall execute an interagency agreement to ensure the coordination of identification, evaluation, and service delivery programs for children who have fetal alcohol syndrome, and for women who are at high risk of having children with fetal alcohol syndrome.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  A new section is added to chapter 43.70 RCW to read as follows:

    The department shall create a screening and assessment program for children who may be affected by fetal alcohol syndrome.  The department shall contract with local public health physicians or practitioners to provide the screening and assessment services.  The department shall provide the physicians and practitioners with identification training for fetal alcohol syndrome.  The training shall be offered through the University of Washington and paid for by the department. 

    The screening and assessment services shall be offered at least once a week in at least six, but not more than twelve, locations throughout the state.  The services shall also include written or visual educational materials for the children and their parents, and referrals to relevant public and private educational, prevention, treatment, and social service programs.

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