ESSB 5872 -
By Committee on Appropriations
ADOPTED 04/07/2005
Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:
"NEW SECTION. Sec. 1 A joint task force is created to determine
the most appropriate and effective administrative structure for
delivery of social and health services to the children and families of
the state. The joint task force shall study how best to ensure that an
administrative structure has defined lines of responsibility for
delivering services to children and families in need and the best means
for the public to hold government accountable for delivery of those
services. The joint task force shall compare the effectiveness of:
Including social and health services to children and families within an
umbrella agency, such as the current department of social and health
services; establishing a separate agency for social and health services
to children and families whose administrator reports directly to the
governor; or creating a children and family services cabinet reporting
directly to the governor. The joint task force shall, as part of the
comparison, examine the administrative structures used in other states
to deliver social and health services to children and families.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2 (1) Membership of the joint task force shall
consist of the following:
(a) The dean of the school of social work at the University of
Washington or an academic professor from a list recommended by the
dean, jointly appointed by the chairs of the house of representatives
children and family services committee and the senate human services
and corrections committee;
(b) Two members of the house of representatives appointed by the
speaker of the house of representatives, one of whom shall be a member
of the majority caucus and one of whom shall be a member of the
minority caucus, and two members of the senate appointed by the
president of the senate, one of whom shall be a member of the majority
caucus and one of whom shall be a member of the minority caucus;
(c) The secretary of the department of social and health services
or the secretary's designee;
(d) An individual with previous experience as an administrator of
a public agency providing services to children and families, jointly
appointed by the chairs of the house of representatives children and
family services committee and the senate human services and corrections
committee;
(e) A juvenile court administrator, jointly appointed by the chairs
of the house of representatives children and family services committee
and the senate human services and corrections committee;
(f) A family superior court judge, jointly appointed by the chairs
of the house of representatives children and family services committee
and the senate human services and corrections committee;
(g) The director of the office of the family and children's
ombudsman;
(h) A social worker with experience in the public sector serving
children and families, jointly appointed by the chairs of the house of
representatives children and family services committee and the senate
human services and corrections committee; and
(i) Two representatives of community-based providers serving
children and families, jointly appointed by the chairs of the house of
representatives children and family services committee and the senate
human services and corrections committee.
(2) The dean of the school of social work at the University of
Washington or the academic professor appointed from a list recommended
by the dean shall be the chair of the joint task force.
(3) Staff support for the joint task force shall be provided by the
house of representatives office of program research and senate
committee services.
(4) Legislative members of the joint task force shall be reimbursed
for travel expenses in accordance with RCW 44.04.120. Nonlegislative
members, except those representing an employer or organization, are
entitled to be reimbursed for travel expenses in accordance with RCW
43.03.050 and 43.03.060.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3 (1) The joint task force shall make
recommendations concerning which administrative structure or structures
would best realize efficiencies in administration and best achieve
positive outcomes for children and families, including, but not limited
to, the following:
(a) Reducing the number of children at risk for abuse or neglect
and increasing the safety and well-being of children;
(b) Increasing the ability of families to care for their own
children and reducing the number of children in foster care;
(c) Increasing placement stability and permanency for children in
out-of-home care and reducing unsafe and inappropriate placements;
(d) Delivering appropriate and timely mental health services;
(e) Providing adequate and appropriate staff training and
education;
(f) Promoting foster parent recruitment, training, and retention;
(g) Reducing the frequency and duration of sibling separation;
(h) Delivering adequate and timely services to adolescents; and
(i) Increasing responsibility and accountability for achieving
goals.
(2) The joint task force shall also make recommendations concerning
the costs, benefits, savings, or reductions in services associated with
the various administrative structures considered by the joint task
force.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4 The joint task force shall report its
recommendations to the governor and the appropriate committees of the
legislature by December 1, 2005."
Correct the title.
EFFECT: Requires the joint task force, in comparing the
effectiveness of administrative structures, to consider creation of a
children and family services cabinet reporting directly to the
Governor.
Changes the following with respect to the membership of the joint
task force:
(1) Adds the following to the membership: The Secretary of DSHS,
an individual with previous experience as an administrator of a public
agency providing services to children and families, and two
representatives of community-based providers serving children and
families.
(2) Removes the following from the membership: An academic
professor with expertise in the management of public agencies, a law
enforcement officer, the Director of the Washington State Office of
Public Defense, a line worker from the JRA's Division of Community
Programs, a private vendor of mental health services to children and
families, the Director of the CA's Office of Legislative Affairs; and
a representative of the Governor's Office.
(3) Requires that members of the joint task force be jointly
appointed by the Chairs of the House Children and Family Services
Committee and the Senate Human Services and Corrections Committee,
rather than by the Governor.
Requires the joint task force to report its recommendations to both
the Governor and the appropriate committees of the Legislature.
Removes the requirement that the first meeting be no later than May 1,
2005, and removes the specification that the task force may consult
with others as needed.
Provides that staff support for the joint task force is to be
provided by the House of Representatives Office of Program Research and
Senate Committee Services.
Specifies the mechanisms for reimbursement of members of the joint
task force for travel expenses.
Removes the emergency clause.