HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1349

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                 Children & Family Services

Title:  An act relating to extending court supervision of children subject to youth‑at‑risk orders.

Brief Description:  Extending court supervision of children subject to youth‑at‑risk orders.

Sponsors:  Representatives Carrell, Eickmeyer, Wolfe, Kastama, Lambert and Esser.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Children & Family Services:  2/3/99, 2/25/99 [DP].

                 Brief Summary of Bill

$Extends court supervision for at risk youth. The current 180 days is amended to 270 days.

CA parent may request an additional one year extension.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 9 members:  Representatives D. Sommers, Republican Co-Chair; Tokuda, Democratic Co-Chair; Boldt, Republican Vice Chair; Kagi, Democratic Vice Chair; Campbell; Carrell; Eickmeyer; Kastama and Pflug.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  Signed by 1 member:  Representative Dickerson.

Staff:  Marilee Scarbrough (786-7196).

Background:

The Family Reconciliation Act provides a process for a parent to request court intervention for an at risk youth.  After making a disposition the court is required to schedule a review hearing within three months.

At the review hearing, the court determines whether court supervision shall continue.  The court supervision cannot continue beyond 180 days unless the court finds and the parent agrees that there are compelling circumstances.  If those circumstances exist,  the court may extend supervision up to 90 days.

Summary of Bill:

The court may continue court supervision up to 270 days past the initial review hearing.  At the end of the extension the court must hold a second review hearing.  At that hearing, a parent may request a one year extension of the court supervision. 

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  Families need more time to change inappropriate behavior of their youth.  Problems are not resolved in nine months. We need to allow parents to have additional oversight.  This is a reasoned approach to keeping children safe.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  (In support)  Representative Mike Carrell (prime sponsor).