FINAL BILL REPORT

                   SB 6429

                          C 268 L 98

                      Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Allowing the children=s trust fund to retain its proportionate share of earnings.

Sponsors:  Senators Long, Kline, Wojahn, Fairley, Winsley and Kohl; by request of Washington Council for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect.

Senate Committee on Human Services & Corrections

House Committee on Appropriations

Background:  The children=s trust fund is a depository for contributions, grants, and gifts to the Washington Council for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (WCPCAN).  The Legislature established WCPCAN in 1982 to increase abuse prevention programs in order to help reduce the breakdown in families.  A reduction in the breakdown in families was intended to reduce the need for state intervention in families and decrease state expense.

Until 1993, WCPCAN received the interest on the fund.  The interest is used to support local activities geared to raising public awareness of child abuse and neglect.  It is also used to support local community based prevention programs.

In 1993, legislation moved all trust fund interest to the general fund except for specified accounts.  The interest from the children=s trust fund was among those moved to the general fund.  This has resulted in an annual loss of $5,000 to the children=s trust fund.

WCPCAN has requested that the Legislature place the children=s trust fund on the list of accounts that receive a proportionate share of the interest on the fund in order to further support local public awareness activities and prevention programs.

Summary:  The children=s trust fund is placed on the list of accounts that receive a proportional share of the interest on the general fund.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate 42 0

House     97 0

Effective:  June 11, 1998