BILL REQ. #:  H-0846.2 

Read first time 02/12/2003.   Referred to Committee on Children & Family Services.

     AN ACT Relating to the funding of prevention and early intervention services; adding a new section to chapter 74.13 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 43.63A RCW; adding a new section to chapter 43.70 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 28A.300 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 43.121 RCW; and creating new sections.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 74.13 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The legislature finds that investment in effective prevention and early intervention services: (a) Produces immediate and long-term improvements for children and families; and (b) avoids future public costs in education, child welfare, substance abuse and mental health treatment, law enforcement and the courts, and juvenile and adult corrections.
     (2) The department of social and health services shall establish and implement uniform criteria for funding prevention and early intervention services and programs that are either state-operated or contracted. The uniform funding criteria must mandate that all funded programs, at a minimum: (a) Define clear, measurable outcomes; (b) are research-based; (c) can demonstrate their anticipated cost-effectiveness; (d) can demonstrate broad community involvement, support, and partnerships; and (e) conduct an evaluation of their program outcomes.
     (3) The department shall assure that data regarding program outcomes are collected, analyzed, and reported in a format enabling public review.
     (4) For the purposes of this section, "prevention and early intervention services and programs" means the following:
     (a) Alternate response system;
     (b) Family reconciliation services;
     (c) Family preservation services;
     (d) Intensive family preservation services;
     (e) Continuum of care;
     (f) Parent education;
     (g) Early childhood programs;
     (h) Community public health and safety networks;
     (i) Community mobilization program;
     (j) Readiness to learn;
     (k) Youth violence prevention grants;
     (l) Youth suicide prevention program;
     (m) Parent-child assistance program;
     (n) Parent trust programs;
     (o) Home-based services;
     (p) Home support specialists; and
     (q) Public health nurse early intervention program.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 43.63A RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The legislature finds that investment in effective prevention and early intervention services: (a) Produces immediate and long-term improvements for children and families; and (b) avoids future public costs in education, child welfare, substance abuse and mental health treatment, law enforcement and the courts, and juvenile and adult corrections.
     (2) The department of community, trade, and economic development shall establish and implement uniform criteria for funding prevention and early intervention services and programs that are either state- operated or contracted. The uniform funding criteria must mandate that all funded programs, at a minimum: (a) Define clear, measurable outcomes; (b) are research-based; (c) can demonstrate their anticipated cost-effectiveness; (d) can demonstrate broad community involvement, support, and partnerships; and (e) conduct an evaluation of their program outcomes.
     (3) The department shall assure that data regarding program outcomes are collected, analyzed, and reported in a format enabling public review.
     (4) For the purposes of this section, "prevention and early intervention services and programs" means the following:
     (a) Alternate response system;
     (b) Family reconciliation services;
     (c) Family preservation services;
     (d) Intensive family preservation services;
     (e) Continuum of care;
     (f) Parent education;
     (g) Early childhood programs;
     (h) Community public health and safety networks;
     (i) Community mobilization program;
     (j) Readiness to learn;
     (k) Youth violence prevention grants;
     (l) Youth suicide prevention program;
     (m) Parent-child assistance program;
     (n) Parent trust programs;
     (o) Home-based services;
     (p) Home support specialists; and
     (q) Public health nurse early intervention program.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   A new section is added to chapter 43.70 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The legislature finds that investment in effective prevention and early intervention services: (a) Produces immediate and long-term improvements for children and families; and (b) avoids future public costs in education, child welfare, substance abuse and mental health treatment, law enforcement and the courts, and juvenile and adult corrections.
     (2) The department of health shall establish and implement uniform criteria for funding prevention and early intervention services and programs that are either state-operated or contracted. The uniform funding criteria must mandate that all funded programs, at a minimum: (a) Define clear, measurable outcomes; (b) are research-based; (c) can demonstrate their anticipated cost-effectiveness; (d) can demonstrate broad community involvement, support, and partnerships; and (e) conduct an evaluation of their program outcomes.
     (3) The department shall assure that data regarding program outcomes are collected, analyzed, and reported in a format enabling public review.
     (4) For the purposes of this section, "prevention and early intervention services and programs" means the following:
     (a) Alternate response system;
     (b) Family reconciliation services;
     (c) Family preservation services;
     (d) Intensive family preservation services;
     (e) Continuum of care;
     (f) Parent education;
     (g) Early childhood programs;
     (h) Community public health and safety networks;
     (i) Community mobilization program;
     (j) Readiness to learn;
     (k) Youth violence prevention grants;
     (l) Youth suicide prevention program;
     (m) Parent-child assistance program;
     (n) Parent trust programs;
     (o) Home-based services;
     (p) Home support specialists; and
     (q) Public health nurse early intervention program.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   A new section is added to chapter 28A.300 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The legislature finds that investment in effective prevention and early intervention services: (a) Produces immediate and long-term improvements for children and families; and (b) avoids future public costs in education, child welfare, substance abuse and mental health treatment, law enforcement and the courts, and juvenile and adult corrections.
     (2) The office of superintendent of public instruction shall establish and implement uniform criteria for funding prevention and early intervention services and programs that are either state-operated or contracted. The uniform funding criteria must mandate that all funded programs, at a minimum: (a) Define clear, measurable outcomes; (b) are research-based; (c) can demonstrate their anticipated cost-effectiveness; (d) can demonstrate broad community involvement, support, and partnerships; and (e) conduct an evaluation of their program outcomes.
     (3) The office shall assure that data regarding program outcomes are collected, analyzed, and reported in a format enabling public review.
     (4) For the purposes of this section, "prevention and early intervention services and programs" means the following:
     (a) Alternate response system;
     (b) Family reconciliation services;
     (c) Family preservation services;
     (d) Intensive family preservation services;
     (e) Continuum of care;
     (f) Parent education;
     (g) Early childhood programs;
     (h) Community public health and safety networks;
     (i) Community mobilization program;
     (j) Readiness to learn;
     (k) Youth violence prevention grants;
     (l) Youth suicide prevention program;
     (m) Parent-child assistance program;
     (n) Parent trust programs;
     (o) Home-based services;
     (p) Home support specialists; and
     (q) Public health nurse early intervention program.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   A new section is added to chapter 43.121 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The legislature finds that investment in effective prevention and early intervention services: (a) Produces immediate and long-term improvements for children and families; and (b) avoids future public costs in education, child welfare, substance abuse and mental health treatment, law enforcement and the courts, and juvenile and adult corrections.
     (2) The Washington council for prevention of child abuse and neglect shall establish and implement uniform criteria for funding prevention and early intervention services and programs that are either state-operated or contracted. The uniform funding criteria must mandate that all funded programs, at a minimum: (a) Define clear, measurable outcomes; (b) are research-based; (c) can demonstrate their anticipated cost-effectiveness; (d) can demonstrate broad community involvement, support, and partnerships; and (e) conduct an evaluation of their program outcomes.
     (3) The council shall assure that data regarding program outcomes are collected, analyzed, and reported in a format enabling public review.
     (4) For the purposes of this section, "prevention and early intervention services and programs" means the following:
     (a) Alternate response system;
     (b) Family reconciliation services;
     (c) Family preservation services;
     (d) Intensive family preservation services;
     (e) Continuum of care;
     (f) Parent education;
     (g) Early childhood programs;
     (h) Community public health and safety networks;
     (i) Community mobilization program;
     (j) Readiness to learn;
     (k) Youth violence prevention grants;
     (l) Youth suicide prevention program;
     (m) Parent-child assistance program;
     (n) Parent trust programs;
     (o) Home-based services;
     (p) Home support specialists; and
     (q) Public health nurse early intervention program.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6   The department of social and health services, the department of community, trade, and economic development, the department of health, the office of superintendent of public instruction, and the Washington council for prevention of child abuse and neglect shall report to the appropriate fiscal and policy committees of the legislature by April 1, 2004, regarding the implementation of the funding criteria for prevention and early intervention services and programs required under this act. The report must include, at a minimum: (1) implementation status of the funding criteria; and (2) a demonstration of the impact of those criteria.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 7   (1) The legislature recognizes the importance of evaluation and outcome measurements of prevention and early intervention programs in order to ensure the cost-effective use of public funds.
     (2) The Washington state institute for public policy shall conduct a review of existing research to identify specific research-proven prevention and early intervention programs that produce a positive return on the dollar compared to the cost of the program. The Washington state institute for public policy shall also identify possible mechanisms for funding such programs.
     (3) The Washington state institute for public policy shall report its findings to the appropriate committees of the legislature no later than January 1, 2004.