S-3544.1 _______________________________________________
SENATE BILL 6536
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State of Washington 57th Legislature 2002 Regular Session
By Senators Hargrove, Long and Costa
Read first time 01/21/2002. Referred to Committee on Human Services & Corrections.
AN ACT Relating to caseload requirements for department of social and health services personnel; amending RCW 43.20A.050, 43.20A.090, and 43.20A.610; and adding a new section to chapter 43.20A RCW.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 43.20A RCW to read as follows:
It is the intent of the legislature that all department employees exempted or not exempted from the provisions of chapter 41.06 RCW provide direct services to agency clients by carrying an active caseload at all times.
Sec. 2. RCW 43.20A.050 and 1997 c 386 s 41 are each amended to read as follows:
It is the intent of the legislature wherever possible to place the internal affairs of the department under the control of the secretary to institute the flexible, alert and intelligent management of its business that changing contemporary circumstances require. Therefore, whenever the secretary's authority is not specifically limited by law, he or she shall have complete charge and supervisory powers over the department in addition to providing direct service to agency clients by carrying an active caseload at all times. The secretary is authorized to create such administrative structures as deemed appropriate, except as otherwise specified by law. The secretary shall have the power to employ such assistants and personnel as may be necessary for the general administration of the department. All assistants and personnel so employed for the general administration of the department shall be required to provide direct services to agency clients by carrying an active caseload at all times. Except as elsewhere specified, such employment shall be in accordance with the rules of the state civil service law, chapter 41.06 RCW.
Sec. 3. RCW 43.20A.090 and 1994 sp.s. c 7 s 515 are each amended to read as follows:
The secretary shall appoint a deputy secretary, a department personnel director and such assistant secretaries as shall be needed to administer the department, all of whom shall, in addition to other duties, provide direct services to agency clients by carrying an active caseload at all times. The deputy secretary shall have charge and general supervision of the department in the absence or disability of the secretary, and in case of a vacancy in the office of secretary, shall continue in charge of the department until a successor is appointed and qualified, or until the governor shall appoint an acting secretary. The secretary shall appoint an assistant secretary to administer the juvenile rehabilitation responsibilities required of the department by chapters 13.04, 13.40, and 13.50 RCW. The officers appointed under this section, and exempt from the provisions of the state civil service law by the terms of RCW 41.06.076, shall be paid salaries to be fixed by the governor in accordance with the procedure established by law for the fixing of salaries for officers exempt from the operation of the state civil service law.
Sec. 4. RCW 43.20A.610 and 1979 c 141 s 48 are each amended to read as follows:
The secretary may appoint and employ such deputies, scientific experts, physicians, nurses, sanitary engineers, and other personnel including consultants, and such clerical and other assistants as may be necessary to carry on the work of the department of social and health services. Duties of every such appointee or employee shall include providing direct services to agency clients by carrying an active caseload throughout the entire term of their appointment or employment.
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