SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6055

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

Human Services & Corrections, February 22, 2001

Title:  An act relating to evaluating children within the foster care agency caseload.

Brief Description:  Evaluating children within the foster care agency caseload.

Sponsors:  Senators Long, Hargrove and Stevens.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Human Services & Corrections:  2/21/01, 2/22/01 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES & CORRECTIONS

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6055 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

Signed by Senators Hargrove, Chair; Costa, Vice Chair; Carlson, Franklin, Hewitt, Kastama, Kohl‑Welles, Long and Stevens.

Staff:  Edith Rice (786‑7444)

Background:  The Children's Administration within the Department of Social and Health Services has experienced difficulty in identifying an assessment instrument to meet requirements under the current law to assess the needs of children in a state assisted support system.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  A pilot project is created to collect and evaluate data regarding the needs of children who are in a state assisted support system, including in-home and out-of-home placement.  The pilot project allows the department to identify an assessment tool which can be implemented within available resources.  The department must report its findings to the Legislature by September 30, 2001.

The department is required to provide additional reports on the results of the pilot project to the appropriate Senate and House of Representatives committees, one year, two years, and five years after implementation.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The department is required to provide additional reports on the results of the pilot project to the appropriate Senate and House of Representatives committees, one year, two years, and five years after implementation.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on February 19, 2001.

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

Testimony For:  Change in the law will allow time for the department to complete its comparative analysis of assessment instruments, and enable the department to comply with the original legislative intent, to evaluate children coming into the foster care caseload, within 30 days.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Marianna Conner, Children's Administration, Department of Social and Health Services (pro).