BP BHEAD INT H [atlas:bill]

AN ACT Relating to reports to the legislature; amending RCW 13.34.803, 13.40.430, 43.63A.230, 70.119A.170, 74.13.031, 74.13.036, and 74.14C.070; reenacting and amending RCW 26.44.030; and repealing RCW 18.20.230, 35.58.2796, 70.128.210, 75.50.030, 75.08.410, and 81.100.050.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1. RCW 13.34.803 and 1998 c 314 s 40 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The departments of health and social and health services shall develop a comprehensive plan for providing services to mothers who (a) have delivered a drug or alcohol exposed or affected infant, and (b) meet the definition of at-risk eligible persons in RCW 74.09.790 and who have a child up to three years of age. The services to be provided by the plan will include those defined in RCW 74.09.790. The plan shall provide for the coordination of services through community-based programs and among: (i) The departments; (ii) the departments' divisions; and (iii) other state agencies. The plan shall include recommendations to the legislature for implementing the plan and any alternative methods for addressing the needs of these mothers and their children.

(2) In developing the plan, the department of health shall inventory the community-based programs that may be accessed to provide services to these mothers and their children; evaluate implementing services for these mothers through extension of the maternity care access system; and evaluate the fiscal impact of the plan. In performing the fiscal evaluation, the department shall calculate potential long-term cost savings to the state resulting from reduced use of the medical, juvenile justice, public assistance, and dependency systems by children and mothers receiving services under the plan.

((~~(3) The department shall submit a report describing the plan to the appropriate committees of the house of representatives and senate by November 1, 1998.~~))

Sec. 2. RCW 13.40.430 and 1993 c 373 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

The department shall within existing funds collect such data as may be necessary to monitor any disparity in processing or disposing of cases involving juvenile offenders due to economic, gender, geographic, or racial factors that may result from implementation of section 1, chapter 373, Laws of 1993. ((Beginning December 1, 1993, the department shall report annually to the legislature on economic, gender, geographic, or racial disproportionality in the rates of arrest, detention, trial, treatment, and disposition in the state's juvenile justice system. The report shall cover the preceding calendar year. The annual report shall identify the causes of such disproportionality and shall specifically point out any economic, gender, geographic, or racial disproportionality resulting from implementation of section 1, chapter 373, Laws of 1993.))

Sec. 3. RCW 26.44.030 and 1999 c 267 s 20 and 1999 c 176 s 30 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:

(1)(a) When any practitioner, county coroner or medical examiner, law enforcement officer, professional school personnel, registered or licensed nurse, social service counselor, psychologist, pharmacist, licensed or certified child care providers or their employees, employee of the department, juvenile probation officer, placement and liaison specialist, responsible living skills program staff, HOPE center staff, or state family and children's ombudsman or any volunteer in the ombudsman's office has reasonable cause to believe that a child has suffered abuse or neglect, he or she shall report such incident, or cause a report to be made, to the proper law enforcement agency or to the department as provided in RCW 26.44.040.

(b) The reporting requirement also applies to department of corrections personnel who, in the course of their employment, observe offenders or the children with whom the offenders are in contact. If, as a result of observations or information received in the course of his or her employment, any department of corrections personnel has reasonable cause to believe that a child has suffered abuse or neglect, he or she shall report the incident, or cause a report to be made, to the proper law enforcement agency or to the department as provided in RCW 26.44.040.

(c) The reporting requirement shall also apply to any adult who has reasonable cause to believe that a child who resides with them, has suffered severe abuse, and is able or capable of making a report. For the purposes of this subsection, "severe abuse" means any of the following: Any single act of abuse that causes physical trauma of sufficient severity that, if left untreated, could cause death; any single act of sexual abuse that causes significant bleeding, deep bruising, or significant external or internal swelling; or more than one act of physical abuse, each of which causes bleeding, deep bruising, significant external or internal swelling, bone fracture, or unconsciousness.

(d) The report must be made at the first opportunity, but in no case longer than forty-eight hours after there is reasonable cause to believe that the child has suffered abuse or neglect. The report must include the identity of the accused if known.

(2) The reporting requirement of subsection (1) of this section does not apply to the discovery of abuse or neglect that occurred during childhood if it is discovered after the child has become an adult. However, if there is reasonable cause to believe other children are or may be at risk of abuse or neglect by the accused, the reporting requirement of subsection (1) of this section does apply.

(3) Any other person who has reasonable cause to believe that a child has suffered abuse or neglect may report such incident to the proper law enforcement agency or to the department of social and health services as provided in RCW 26.44.040.

(4) The department, upon receiving a report of an incident of alleged abuse or neglect pursuant to this chapter, involving a child who has died or has had physical injury or injuries inflicted upon him or her other than by accidental means or who has been subjected to alleged sexual abuse, shall report such incident to the proper law enforcement agency. In emergency cases, where the child's welfare is endangered, the department shall notify the proper law enforcement agency within twenty-four hours after a report is received by the department. In all other cases, the department shall notify the law enforcement agency within seventy-two hours after a report is received by the department. If the department makes an oral report, a written report must also be made to the proper law enforcement agency within five days thereafter.

(5) Any law enforcement agency receiving a report of an incident of alleged abuse or neglect pursuant to this chapter, involving a child who has died or has had physical injury or injuries inflicted upon him or her other than by accidental means, or who has been subjected to alleged sexual abuse, shall report such incident in writing as provided in RCW 26.44.040 to the proper county prosecutor or city attorney for appropriate action whenever the law enforcement agency's investigation reveals that a crime may have been committed. The law enforcement agency shall also notify the department of all reports received and the law enforcement agency's disposition of them. In emergency cases, where the child's welfare is endangered, the law enforcement agency shall notify the department within twenty-four hours. In all other cases, the law enforcement agency shall notify the department within seventy-two hours after a report is received by the law enforcement agency.

(6) Any county prosecutor or city attorney receiving a report under subsection (5) of this section shall notify the victim, any persons the victim requests, and the local office of the department, of the decision to charge or decline to charge a crime, within five days of making the decision.

(7) The department may conduct ongoing case planning and consultation with those persons or agencies required to report under this section, with consultants designated by the department, and with designated representatives of Washington Indian tribes if the client information exchanged is pertinent to cases currently receiving child protective services. Upon request, the department shall conduct such planning and consultation with those persons required to report under this section if the department determines it is in the best interests of the child. Information considered privileged by statute and not directly related to reports required by this section must not be divulged without a valid written waiver of the privilege.

(8) Any case referred to the department by a physician licensed under chapter 18.57 or 18.71 RCW on the basis of an expert medical opinion that child abuse, neglect, or sexual assault has occurred and that the child's safety will be seriously endangered if returned home, the department shall file a dependency petition unless a second licensed physician of the parents' choice believes that such expert medical opinion is incorrect. If the parents fail to designate a second physician, the department may make the selection. If a physician finds that a child has suffered abuse or neglect but that such abuse or neglect does not constitute imminent danger to the child's health or safety, and the department agrees with the physician's assessment, the child may be left in the parents' home while the department proceeds with reasonable efforts to remedy parenting deficiencies.

(9) Persons or agencies exchanging information under subsection (7) of this section shall not further disseminate or release the information except as authorized by state or federal statute. Violation of this subsection is a misdemeanor.

(10) Upon receiving reports of alleged abuse or neglect, the department or law enforcement agency may interview children. The interviews may be conducted on school premises, at day-care facilities, at the child's home, or at other suitable locations outside of the presence of parents. Parental notification of the interview must occur at the earliest possible point in the investigation that will not jeopardize the safety or protection of the child or the course of the investigation. Prior to commencing the interview the department or law enforcement agency shall determine whether the child wishes a third party to be present for the interview and, if so, shall make reasonable efforts to accommodate the child's wishes. Unless the child objects, the department or law enforcement agency shall make reasonable efforts to include a third party in any interview so long as the presence of the third party will not jeopardize the course of the investigation.

(11) Upon receiving a report of alleged child abuse and neglect, the department or investigating law enforcement agency shall have access to all relevant records of the child in the possession of mandated reporters and their employees.

(12) The department shall maintain investigation records and conduct timely and periodic reviews of all cases constituting abuse and neglect. The department shall maintain a log of screened-out nonabusive cases.

(13) The department shall use a risk assessment process when investigating alleged child abuse and neglect referrals. The department shall present the risk factors at all hearings in which the placement of a dependent child is an issue. Substance abuse must be a risk factor. The department shall, within funds appropriated for this purpose, offer enhanced community-based services to persons who are determined not to require further state intervention.

((~~The department shall provide annual reports to the legislature on the effectiveness of the risk assessment process.~~))

(14) Upon receipt of a report of alleged abuse or neglect the law enforcement agency may arrange to interview the person making the report and any collateral sources to determine if any malice is involved in the reporting.

(15) The department shall make reasonable efforts to learn the name, address, and telephone number of each person making a report of abuse or neglect under this section. The department shall provide assurances of appropriate confidentiality of the identification of persons reporting under this section. If the department is unable to learn the information required under this subsection, the department shall only investigate cases in which: (a) The department believes there is a serious threat of substantial harm to the child; (b) the report indicates conduct involving a criminal offense that has, or is about to occur, in which the child is the victim; or (c) the department has, after investigation, a report of abuse or neglect that has been founded with regard to a member of the household within three years of receipt of the referral.

Sec. 4. RCW 43.63A.230 and 1993 c 280 s 63 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The department of community, trade, and economic development shall integrate an employee ownership program within its existing technical assistance programs. The employee ownership program shall provide technical assistance to cooperatives authorized under chapter 23.78 RCW and conduct educational programs on employee ownership and self-management. The department shall include information on the option of employee ownership wherever appropriate in its various programs.

(2) The department shall maintain a list of firms and individuals with expertise in the field of employee ownership and utilize such firms and individuals, as appropriate, in delivering and coordinating the delivery of technical, managerial, and educational services. In addition, the department shall work with and rely on the services of the employment security department and state institutions of higher education to promote employee ownership.

(3) ((The department shall report to the governor, the appropriate economic development committees of the senate and the house of representatives, and the ways and means committees of each house by December 1 of 1988, and each year thereafter, on the accomplishments of the employee-ownership program. Such reports shall include the number and types of firms assisted, the number of jobs created by such firms, the types of services, the number of workshops presented, the number of employees trained, and the results of client satisfaction surveys distributed to those using the services of the program.

~~(4)~~)) For purposes of this section, an employee stock ownership plan qualifies as a cooperative if at least fifty percent, plus one share, of its voting shares of stock are voted on a one-person-one-vote basis.

Sec. 5. RCW 70.119A.170 and 1997 c 218 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) A drinking water assistance account is created in the state treasury. Such subaccounts as are necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter are permitted to be established within the account. The purpose of the account is to allow the state to use any federal funds that become available to states from congress to fund a state revolving loan fund program as part of the reauthorization of the federal safe drinking water act. Expenditures from the account may only be made by the secretary, the public works board, or the department of community, trade, and economic development, after appropriation. Moneys in the account may only be used, consistent with federal law, to assist water systems to provide safe drinking water through a program administered through the department of health, the public works board, and the department of community, trade, and economic development and for other activities authorized under federal law. Money may be placed in the account from the proceeds of bonds when authorized by the legislature, transfers from other state funds or accounts, federal capitalization grants or other financial assistance, all repayments of moneys borrowed from the account, all interest payments made by borrowers from the account or otherwise earned on the account, or any other lawful source. All interest earned on moneys deposited in the account, including repayments, shall remain in the account and may be used for any eligible purpose. Moneys in the account may only be used to assist local governments and water systems to provide safe and reliable drinking water, for other services and assistance authorized by federal law to be funded from these federal funds, and to administer the program.

(2) The department and the public works board shall establish and maintain a program to use the moneys in the drinking water assistance account as provided by the federal government under the safe drinking water act. The department and the public works board, in consultation with purveyors, local governments, local health jurisdictions, financial institutions, commercial construction interests, other state agencies, and other affected and interested parties, shall by January 1, 1999, adopt final joint rules and requirements for the provision of financial assistance to public water systems as authorized under federal law. Prior to the effective date of the final rules, the department and the public works board may establish and utilize guidelines for the sole purpose of ensuring the timely procurement of financial assistance from the federal government under the safe drinking water act, but such guidelines shall be converted to rules by January 1, 1999. The department and the public works board shall make every reasonable effort to ensure the state's receipt and disbursement of federal funds to eligible public water systems as quickly as possible after the federal government has made them available. ((By December 15, 1997, the department and the public works board shall provide a report to the appropriate committees of the legislature reflecting the input from the affected interests and parties on the status of the program. The report shall include significant issues and concerns, the status of rule making and guidelines, and a plan for the adoption of final rules.))

(3) If the department, public works board, or any other department, agency, board, or commission of state government participates in providing service under this section, the administering entity shall endeavor to provide cost-effective and timely services. Mechanisms to provide cost-effective and timely services include: (a) Adopting federal guidelines by reference into administrative rules; (b) using existing management mechanisms rather than creating new administrative structures; (c) investigating the use of service contracts, either with other governmental entities or with nongovernmental service providers; (d) the use of joint or combined financial assistance applications; and (e) any other method or practice designed to streamline and expedite the delivery of services and financial assistance.

(4) The department shall have the authority to establish assistance priorities and carry out oversight and related activities, other than financial administration, with respect to assistance provided with federal funds. The department, the public works board, and the department of community, trade, and economic development shall jointly develop, with the assistance of water purveyors and other affected and interested parties, a memorandum of understanding setting forth responsibilities and duties for each of the parties. The memorandum of understanding at a minimum, shall include:

(a) Responsibility for developing guidelines for providing assistance to public water systems and related oversight prioritization and oversight responsibilities including requirements for prioritization of loans or other financial assistance to public water systems;

(b) Department submittal of preapplication information to the public works board for review and comment;

(i) Financial capability of the applicant; and

(ii) Readiness to proceed, or the ability of the applicant to promptly commence the project;

(d) A process for determining consistency with existing water resource planning and management, including coordinated water supply plans, regional water resource plans, and comprehensive plans under the growth management act, chapter 36.70A RCW;

(e) A determination of:

(i) Least-cost solutions, including consolidation and restructuring of small systems, where appropriate, into more economical units;

(ii) The provision of regional facilities;

(iii) Projects and activities that facilitate compliance with the federal safe drinking water act; and

(iv) Projects and activities that are intended to achieve the public health objectives of federal and state drinking water laws;

(f) Implementation of water conservation and other demand management measures consistent with state guidelines for water utilities;

(g) Assistance for the necessary planning and engineering to assure that consistency, coordination, and proper professional review are incorporated into projects or activities proposed for funding;

(h) Minimum standards for water system capacity, financial viability, and water system planning;

(i) Testing and evaluation of the water quality of the state's public water system to assure that priority for financial assistance is provided to systems and areas with threats to public health from contaminated supplies and reduce in appropriate cases the substantial increases in costs and rates that customers of small systems would otherwise incur under the monitoring and testing requirements of the federal safe drinking water act;

(j) Coordination, to the maximum extent possible, with other state programs that provide financial assistance to public water systems and state programs that address existing or potential water quality or drinking contamination problems;

(k) Definitions of "affordability" and "disadvantaged community" that are consistent with these and similar terms in use by other state or federal assistance programs;

(l) Criteria for the financial assistance program for public water systems, which shall include, but are not limited to:

(i) Determining projects addressing the most serious risk to human health;

(ii) Determining the capacity of the system to effectively manage its resources, including meeting state financial viability criteria; and

(iii) Determining the relative benefit to the community served; and

(m) Ensure that each agency fulfills the audit, accounting, and reporting requirements under federal law for its portion of the administration of this program.

(5) The department and the public works board shall begin the process to disburse funds no later than October 1, 1997, and shall adopt such rules as are necessary under chapter 34.05 RCW to administer the program by January 1, 1999.

Sec. 6. RCW 74.13.031 and 1999 c 267 s 8 are each amended to read as follows:

The department shall have the duty to provide child welfare services and shall:

(1) Develop, administer, supervise, and monitor a coordinated and comprehensive plan that establishes, aids, and strengthens services for the protection and care of runaway, dependent, or neglected children.

(2) Within available resources, recruit an adequate number of prospective adoptive and foster homes, both regular and specialized, i.e. homes for children of ethnic minority, including Indian homes for Indian children, sibling groups, handicapped and emotionally disturbed, teens, and pregnant and parenting teens((, and annually report to the governor and the legislature concerning the department's success in: (a) Meeting the need for adoptive and foster home placements; (b) reducing the foster parent turnover rate; (c) completing home studies for legally free children; and (d) implementing and operating the passport program required by RCW 74.13.285. The report shall include a section entitled "Foster Home Turn-Over, Causes and Recommendations.")).

(3) Investigate complaints of any recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker that results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, or sexual abuse or exploitation, or that presents an imminent risk of serious harm, and on the basis of the findings of such investigation, offer child welfare services in relation to the problem to such parents, legal custodians, or persons serving in loco parentis, and/or bring the situation to the attention of an appropriate court, or another community agency: PROVIDED, That an investigation is not required of nonaccidental injuries which are clearly not the result of a lack of care or supervision by the child's parents, legal custodians, or persons serving in loco parentis. If the investigation reveals that a crime against a child may have been committed, the department shall notify the appropriate law enforcement agency.

(4) Offer, on a voluntary basis, family reconciliation services to families who are in conflict.

(5) Monitor out-of-home placements, on a timely and routine basis, to assure the safety, well-being, and quality of care being provided is within the scope of the intent of the legislature as defined in RCW 74.13.010 and 74.15.010, and annually submit a report measuring the extent to which the department achieved the specified goals to the governor and the legislature.

(6) Have authority to accept custody of children from parents and to accept custody of children from juvenile courts, where authorized to do so under law, to provide child welfare services including placement for adoption, and to provide for the physical care of such children and make payment of maintenance costs if needed. Except where required by Public Law 95-608 (25 U.S.C. Sec. 1915), no private adoption agency which receives children for adoption from the department shall discriminate on the basis of race, creed, or color when considering applications in their placement for adoption.

(7) Have authority to provide temporary shelter to children who have run away from home and who are admitted to crisis residential centers.

(8) Have authority to purchase care for children; and shall follow in general the policy of using properly approved private agency services for the actual care and supervision of such children insofar as they are available, paying for care of such children as are accepted by the department as eligible for support at reasonable rates established by the department.

(9) Establish a children's services advisory committee which shall assist the secretary in the development of a partnership plan for utilizing resources of the public and private sectors, and advise on all matters pertaining to child welfare, licensing of child care agencies, adoption, and services related thereto. At least one member shall represent the adoption community.

(10) Have authority to provide continued foster care or group care for individuals from eighteen through twenty years of age to enable them to complete their high school or vocational school program.

(11) Have authority within funds appropriated for foster care services to purchase care for Indian children who are in the custody of a federally recognized Indian tribe or tribally licensed child-placing agency pursuant to parental consent, tribal court order, or state juvenile court order; and the purchase of such care shall be subject to the same eligibility standards and rates of support applicable to other children for whom the department purchases care.

Notwithstanding any other provision of RCW 13.32A.170 through 13.32A.200 and 74.13.032 through 74.13.036, or of this section all services to be provided by the department of social and health services under subsections (4), (6), and (7) of this section, subject to the limitations of these subsections, may be provided by any program offering such services funded pursuant to Titles II and III of the federal juvenile justice and delinquency prevention act of 1974.

(12) Within amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, provide preventive services to families with children that prevent or shorten the duration of an out-of-home placement.

Sec. 7. RCW 74.13.036 and 1996 c 133 s 37 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The department of social and health services shall oversee implementation of chapter 13.34 RCW and chapter 13.32A RCW. The oversight shall be comprised of working with affected parts of the criminal justice and child care systems as well as with local government, legislative, and executive authorities to effectively carry out these chapters. The department shall work with all such entities to ensure that chapters 13.32A and 13.34 RCW are implemented in a uniform manner throughout the state.

(2) The department shall develop a plan and procedures, in cooperation with the state-wide advisory committee, to ((~~insure~~)) ensure the full implementation of the provisions of chapter 13.32A RCW. Such plan and procedures shall include but are not limited to:

(a) Procedures defining and delineating the role of the department and juvenile court with regard to the execution of the child in need of services placement process;

(b) Procedures for designating department staff responsible for family reconciliation services;

(d) Procedures for the continued education of all individuals in the criminal juvenile justice and child care systems who are affected by chapter 13.32A RCW, as well as members of the legislative and executive branches of government.

There shall be uniform application of the procedures developed by the department and juvenile court personnel, to the extent practicable. Local and regional differences shall be taken into consideration in the development of procedures required under this subsection.

(3) In addition to its other oversight duties, the department shall:

(a) Identify and evaluate resource needs in each region of the state;

(b) Disseminate information collected as part of the oversight process to affected groups and the general public;

(c) Educate affected entities within the juvenile justice and child care systems, local government, and the legislative branch regarding the implementation of chapters 13.32A and 13.34 RCW;

(d) Review complaints concerning the services, policies, and procedures of those entities charged with implementing chapters 13.32A and 13.34 RCW; and

(e) Report any violations and misunderstandings regarding the implementation of chapters 13.32A and 13.34 RCW.

(4) The secretary shall submit a quarterly report to the appropriate local government entities.

(((5) The department shall provide an annual report to the legislature not later than December 1, indicating the number of times it has declined to accept custody of a child from a law enforcement agency under chapter 13.32A RCW and the number of times it has received a report of a child being released without placement under RCW 13.32A.060(1)(c). The report shall include the dates, places, and reasons the department declined to accept custody and the dates and places children are released without placement.))

Sec. 8. RCW 74.14C.070 and 1995 c 311 s 11 are each amended to read as follows:

The secretary of social and health services, or the secretary's regional designee, may transfer funds appropriated for foster care services to purchase preservation services and other preventive services for children at imminent risk of out-of-home placement or who face a substantial likelihood of out-of-home placement. This transfer may be made in those regions that lower foster care expenditures through efficient use of preservation services and permanency planning efforts. The transfer shall be equivalent to the amount of reduced foster care expenditures and shall be made in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and with the approval of the office of financial management. ((The secretary shall present an annual report to the legislature regarding any transfers under this section. The secretary shall include caseload, expenditure, cost avoidance, identified improvements to the out-of-home care system, and outcome data related to the transfer in the report. The secretary shall also include in the report information regarding: (1) The percent of cases where a child is placed in out-of-home care after the provision of intensive family preservation services or family preservation services; (2) the average length of time before such child is placed out-of-home; (3) the average length of time such child is placed out-of-home; and (4) the number of families that refused the offer of either family preservation services or intensive family preservation services.))

NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. The following acts or parts of acts are each repealed:

(1) RCW 18.20.230 (Training standards review--Proposed enhancements) and 1999 c 372 s 3 & 1998 c 272 s 2;

(2) RCW 35.58.2796 (Public transportation systems--Annual report by department) and 1989 c 396 s 2;

(3) RCW 70.128.210 (Training standards review--Delivery system--Issues reviewed--Report to the legislature) and 1998 c 272 s 3;

(4) RCW 75.50.030 (Salmon enhancement plan--Enhancement projects) and 1995 1st sp.s. c 2 s 35 & 1985 c 458 s 3;

(5) RCW 75.08.410 (Director's determination of salmon production costs) and 1989 c 336 s 2; and

(6) RCW 81.100.050 (Survey of tax use) and 1990 c 43 s 16.