SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5623

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

        Human Services & Corrections, February 12, 1999

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:  Senator Hargrove.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Human Services & Corrections:  2/9/99, 2/12/99 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES & CORRECTIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Hargrove, Chair; Costa, Vice Chair; Franklin, Long, Patterson, Sheahan and Stevens.

Staff:  Lynn Hale (786-7430)

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.  Under current law 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.  The court may extend its supervision of the child if it finds that continuing court intervention and supervision are necessary to assist the parent to maintain care, custody, and control of the child.

In all review hearings, the court must decide if the parent and child are complying with the dispositional plan and the court may modify the dispositional plan.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on February 2, 1999.

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

Testimony For:  This bill is a positive step and will provide support to families which is not currently provided to them.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO: Merrilea Mount, Region 3 RAC, Village Moms; Joyce Newsome, Region 3 RAC, Village Moms; Carole Holland, Children's Administration (neutral).