HOUSE BILL ANALYSIS

HB 1543

Title:An act relating to the prevention of juvenile violence.

Brief Description:Creating the family investment account to reduce youth violence.

Sponsors: Representatives Radcliff and Tokuda.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND CORRECTIONS

Staff:  Pat Shelledy (786-7149)

Background:  The Washington Council of Child Abuse and Neglect is an executive office within the office of the Governor.  The council assists private and public agencies in identifying and establishing community-based educational programs for the prevention of child abuse and neglect.  In establishing the council, the Legislature intended that an increase in prevention programs would help decrease the breakdown in families and reduce the need for state intervention and state expense.  To achieve those goals, the council may contract for a broad array of services and programs. 

Summary:  The Legislature finds that community deterioration and family disintegration are increasing problems in the state.  One clear indicator of this damage is juvenile crime and violence.  The Legislature finds that prevention is one of the best methods of fighting juvenile crime and is cost-effective.  The Legislature finds that confining more juveniles and building more institutions is only one part of the solution; increased spending on confinement must be linked to increased funding on prevention.

A family investment account is created in the custody of the state treasurer.  On January 1, 1998, the state treasurer must transfer money from the state general fund to the family investment account in an amount equal to any increase in capital and operating expenditures for the institutional services program of the juvenile rehabilitation administration for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1997 over fiscal year June 30, 1996.  On each subsequent January, the state treasurer shall transfer increases in expenditures in each fiscal year over the previous fiscal year.  The office of financial management must notify the state of the amount that needs to be transferred.  The amount transferred may not exceed 18 million. 

The Washington Council for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect may make grants of money in the family investment account.  The grants are for the purpose of reducing conditions associated with entry of youth into the juvenile justice system and must be used to prevent juvenile crime and not for the purpose of confinement or treatment of adjudicated or diverted juvenile offenders.  The grant applications must also meet several other criteria. 

A grant review team is established to review the grants and to make recommendations about which applicants should receive funding.  Only the executive director or his or designee may authorize expenditures from the account. 

The council must report biennially to the governor and to the Legislature concerning the council=s activities in preventing juvenile crime.

Require the Exercise of Rule- Making Powers:  No

Fiscal Note:  Requested on February 4, 1997.

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