BILL REQ. #:  S-4345.1 



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SENATE BILL 6684
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State of Washington58th Legislature2004 Regular Session

By Senators Kline, McCaslin, Esser, Kohl-Welles and Roach

Read first time 01/29/2004.   Referred to Committee on Judiciary.



     AN ACT Relating to standardizing chemical dependency assessment protocols; and creating new sections.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that standardized chemical dependency assessment protocols are necessary in court-involved chemical dependency cases to improve the accuracy of assessments and treatment plans. Background information, such as criminal history, the police report, and a drug screen urinalysis, must be available to chemical dependency professionals and probation assessment officers at the commencement of the assessment of individuals in court-involved chemical dependency cases. The legislature intends to create a work group to draft protocols to address how such information will be made available.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   (1) By July 1, 2004, the director of the division of alcohol and substance abuse of the department of social and health services, or the director's designee, shall within existing resources convene and chair a work group to develop written protocols for the production of accurate chemical dependency assessments and appropriate treatment plans. The work group shall also determine the process by which such information will be made available in a timely manner to chemical dependency professionals and probation assessment officers.
     (2) In addition to the director of the division of alcohol and substance abuse of the department of social and health services, the following shall be members of the work group: A representative from the district and municipal court judges association, a representative from the administrative office of the courts, a representative from the misdemeanant corrections association, a representative from the Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs, two treatment providers, and a representative from the Washington association of prosecuting attorneys.
     Members of the work group shall serve without compensation.
     (3) By November 1, 2004, the work group shall finalize the written protocols and submit them to the legislature and the governor.

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