SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 6392

              As Passed Senate, February 16, 1998

Title:  An act relating to licensed overnight youth shelters.

Brief Description:  Providing financial support to licensed overnight youth shelters.

Sponsors:  Senators Strannigan, Long, West and Oke.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Human Services & Corrections:  1/29/98 [DP].

Ways & Means:  2/9/98, 2/10/98 [DP].

Passed Senate, 2/16/98, 43-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES & CORRECTIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Long, Chair; Zarelli, Vice Chair; Franklin, Hargrove, Kohl, Schow and Stevens.

Staff:  Richard Rodger (786-7461)

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators West, Chair; Deccio, Vice Chair; Strannigan, Vice Chair; Bauer, Brown, Fraser, Hochstatter, Kohl, Long, Loveland, McDonald, Roach, Rossi, Schow, B. Sheldon, Snyder, Spanel, Swecker, Thibaudeau, Winsley and Zarelli.

Staff:  Maura Sullivan (786-7431)

Background:  Overnight youth shelters provide temporary food and housing to homeless or runaway youth who have no other place to stay.  These shelters are required to be licensed by the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS).  In order to be licenced, the shelters must meet minimum requirements necessary to ensure the health and safety of the youth who stay in the shelter.

Many of the overnight youth shelters operate on a minimal budget and cannot afford to make many of the changes required by DSHS in order to meet the licensing standards.  It has been suggested that a grant program should be created to provide assistance to currently licensed shelters to assist them in meeting DSHS's licensing requirements.

Summary of Bill:  A grant program is created in the Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development (department) to provide grants to licensed overnight youth shelters.  The department is appropriated $120,000 for the purpose of assisting overnight youth shelters in meeting DSHS licensing requirements.  The maximum grant is limited to $20,000 and may only be provided to currently licenced shelters.

Appropriation:  $120,000.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For (Human Services & Corrections):  There are only six licensed overnight youth shelters in this state.  These facilities need financial assistance in meeting DSHS licensing standards.

Testimony Against (Human Services & Corrections):  None.

Testified (Human Services & Corrections):  PRO:  Seth Dawson, Common Ground for Children; Jeri Gilman, Cocoon House; Ann O=Leary, Denny Place.

Testimony For (Ways & Means): This is a relatively modest but significant financial investment.  Currently some overnight youth shelters turn away homeless youths due to a lack of resources.  This funding would help shelters operate at full capacity.

Testimony Against (Ways & Means): None.

Testified (Ways & Means): Pro: Seth Dawson, Common Ground for Children; Laurie Lippold, Children's Home Society; Majken Ryherd Keira, WA Low-Income Housing Congress; Margaret Casey, WA State Catholic Conference; George Manalo-Le Clair, Children's Alliance.

House Amendment(s):  The House amendments remove the appropriation and expand the program to shelters that may become licensed in the future.