READ FIRST TIME 03/10/03.   

     AN ACT Relating to the funding of prevention and early intervention services; adding new sections to chapter 74.13 RCW; and adding a new section to chapter 70.190 RCW.

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:
     The legislature finds that investment in effective prevention and early intervention services: (1) Produces immediate and long-term improvements for children and families; and (2) avoids future public costs in education, child welfare, substance abuse, health, and mental health treatment, law enforcement, the courts, and juvenile and adult corrections. The legislature further finds that state agencies receiving funds for prevention and early intervention services should contract for or operate services that have a strong likelihood of achieving expected program outcomes.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 74.13 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) For the purposes of this section, "prevention and early intervention services and programs" are the following state-operated or contracted programs or their successors:
     (a) Alternate response system;
     (b) Family reconciliation services;
     (c) Family preservation services;
     (d) Intensive family preservation services;
     (e) Continuum of care;
     (f) Parent trust program;
     (g) Public health nurse early intervention program; and
     (h) Other prevention and early intervention services and programs in the department of social and health services, children's administration, as identified by the secretary.
     (2) The department of social and health services in consultation with the family policy council, created in chapter 70.190 RCW, shall, by March 1, 2004, identify criteria for funding prevention and early intervention services and programs in the children's administration that are either state-operated or contracted. The criteria must require that funded programs, at a minimum: (a) Define clear, measurable outcomes; (b) identify research that may be applicable; (c) identify anticipated cost benefits; (d) describe broad community involvement, support, and partnerships; and (e) provide data related to program outcomes and cost benefits.
     (3) The department shall incorporate the funding criteria into contracts and operating procedures beginning January 1, 2005, within existing resources.
     (4) The department shall begin providing the family policy council program outcome data required under subsection (2) of this section not later than June 1, 2005.
     (5) The family policy council shall begin analyzing the program outcome and cost benefit data required under subsection (2) of this section July 1, 2005.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   A new section is added to chapter 74.13 RCW to read as follows:
     Nothing in this act creates:
     (1) An entitlement to services;
     (2) Judicial authority to order the provision of services to any person or family if the services are unavailable or unsuitable, or the child or family is not eligible for such services; or
     (3) A private right of action or claim on the part of any individual, entity, or agency against any state agency or contractor.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   A new section is added to chapter 70.190 RCW to read as follows:
     The council shall: Beginning with its 2005 annual report and each subsequent report, list the prevention and early intervention services to which the funding criteria established in section 2(2) of this act are applied; and beginning with its 2006 annual report and in each subsequent annual report, include the outcome and cost benefit data collected under section 2(5) of this act and provide an analysis of the success and cost benefit program outcomes.
     In the 2006 annual report and in each subsequent annual report the council shall identify and recommend other services, programs, and state agencies to which the funding criteria may apply.