HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1862

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                 Children & Family Services

                       Appropriations

Title:  An act relating to community‑based alternative response systems.

Brief Description:  Requiring a community‑based response system for certain families referred to child protective services.

Sponsors:  Representatives Cooke, Dickerson, Boldt and McDonald.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Children & Family Services:  2/21/97, 2/28/97 [DPS];

Appropriations:  3/8/97 [DP2S(w/o sub CFS)].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 11 members:  Representatives Cooke, Chairman; Boldt, Vice Chairman; Bush, Vice Chairman; Tokuda, Ranking Minority Member; Kastama, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Ballasiotes; Carrell; Dickerson; Gombosky; McDonald and Wolfe.

Staff:  David Knutson (786-7146).

Background:  The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) uses a risk assessment matrix for screening reports of child abuse and neglect.  The risk assessment matrix uses a five point scale for ranking reports.  A score of five is the most serious report; a score of one, the least important.  The department currently screens out reports with a score of three or lower.  Screened-out cases do not typically receive services from the department.  In some limited areas, the department does offer services to families that are screened-out.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  The DSHS will create a community-based alternative response system for low-risk families who are screened-out by the risk assessment process.  Services will be provided through contracts with community-based organizations.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The DSHS is provided greater flexibility in determining which cases will be referred to a community alternative response program.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill:  The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect on July 1, 1997.

Testimony For:  Other states have instituted alternative response systems for low-risk child abuse referrals and have reduced further abuse.  This is a cost-effective targeted prevention strategy.

Testimony Against:  None presented.

Testified:  Priscilla Martens, Behavioral Sciences Institute (pro); Seth Dawson, Common Ground for Children (pro); Elmira Forner, Catholic Community Services (pro); Alice Probert, Catholic Community Services (pro); and Janet Hedgepath, Catholic Community Services  (pro).

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 31 members:  Representatives Huff, Chairman; Alexander, Vice Chairman; Clements, Vice Chairman; Wensman, Vice Chairman; H. Sommers, Ranking Minority Member; Doumit, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Gombosky, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Benson; Carlson; Chopp; Cody; Cooke; Crouse; Dyer; Grant; Keiser; Kenney; Kessler; Lambert; Linville; Lisk; Mastin; McMorris; Parlette; Poulsen; Regala; D. Schmidt; Sehlin; Sheahan; Talcott and Tokuda.

Staff:  Jason Hall (786-7145).

Summary of Recommendation of Committee on Appropriations Compared to Recommendation of Committee on Children & Family Services:  The second substitute bill makes the creation of community-based alternative response systems permissive rather than mandatory.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date  The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect on July 1, 1997.

Testimony For:  This bill will cover low-risk cases that often deteriorate and enter the child protective services (CPS) system later with a higher cost attached.  The bill also reduces the number of re-referrals to CPS for suspected abuse or neglect.  This is modeled on the South King County program which is successful.  It is a small price to pay for extension of the program statewide.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Representative Suzette Cooke, prime sponsor; Margaret Casey, Washington State Catholic Conference; and Jennifer Strus, Department of Social and Health Services.