BILL REQ. #:  S-1947.1 

Read first time 02/27/2003.   Referred to Committee on Children & Family Services & Corrections.

     AN ACT Relating to changing minimum requirements for the existing secure community transition facility; amending RCW 71.09.300; repealing RCW 71.09.270; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 71.09.300 and 2001 2nd sp.s. c 12 s 216 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Secure community transition facilities shall meet the following minimum staffing requirements:
     (a)(i) At any time the census of a facility that accepts its first resident before July 1, 2003, is six or fewer residents, the facility shall maintain a minimum staffing ratio of one staff per three residents during normal waking hours and one awake staff per four residents during normal sleeping hours. In no case shall the staffing ratio permit less than two staff per housing unit.
     (ii) At any time the census of a facility that accepts its first resident on or after July 1, 2003, is six or fewer residents, the facility shall maintain a minimum staffing ratio of one staff per resident during normal waking hours and two awake staff per three residents during normal sleeping hours. In no case shall the staffing ratio permit less than two staff per housing unit.
     (b) At any time the census of a facility is six or fewer residents, all staff shall be classified as residential rehabilitation counselor II or have a classification that indicates a higher level of skill, experience, and training.
     (c) Before being assigned to a facility, all staff shall have training in sex offender issues, self-defense, and crisis de-escalation skills in addition to departmental orientation and, as appropriate, management training. All staff with resident treatment or care duties must participate in ongoing in-service training.
     (d) All staff must pass a departmental background check and the check is not subject to the limitations in chapter 9.96A RCW. A person who has been convicted of a felony, or any sex offense, may not be employed at the secure community transition facility or be approved as an escort for a resident of the facility.
     (2) With respect to the facility established pursuant to RCW 71.09.250(1), the department shall, no later than December 1, 2001, provide a staffing plan to the appropriate committees of the legislature that will cover the growth of that facility to its full capacity.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   RCW 71.09.270 (Transition facility--Law enforcement presence) and 2001 2nd sp.s. c 12 s 210 are each repealed.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect July 1, 2003.