HOUSE BILL REPORT
ESSB 5872



         As Reported by House Committee On:       
Children & Family Services
Appropriations

Title: An act relating to creating the joint task force on the administration and delivery of services to children and families.

Brief Description: Creating a task force on the administrative organization, structure, and delivery of services to children and families.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Human Services & Corrections (originally sponsored by Senators Stevens, Carrell, Mulliken, Deccio, Finkbeiner, Delvin, Benson, Johnson, Oke, Hewitt and Schmidt).

Brief History:

Children & Family Services: 3/28/05, 3/31/05 [DPA];

Appropriations: 4/2/05 [DPA(APPw/oCFS)s].

Brief Summary of Engrossed Substitute Bill
(As Amended by House Committee)
  • Creates a joint task force, staffed by the House Office of Program Research and Senate Committee Services, to determine the most appropriate and effective administrative structure for delivery of social and health services to children and families.


HOUSE COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES

Majority Report: Do pass as amended. Signed by 9 members: Representatives Kagi, Chair; Roberts, Vice Chair; Hinkle, Ranking Minority Member; Walsh, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Darneille, Dickerson, Dunn, Haler and Pettigrew.

Staff: Cynthia Forland (786-7152).

Background:

In the early 1970s, the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) was created as an umbrella agency to bring together state human services programs so that people could get comprehensive assistance with many, often interrelated, needs and the state could realize savings through lower administrative costs.

The DSHS is made up of the following six administrations:

In 1983, the Legislature created the Washington State Institute for Public Policy (WSIPP) to carry out practical research, at legislative direction, on issues of importance to the state. The WSIPP conducts research activities using its own policy analysts, academic specialists from universities, and consultants.


Summary of Amended Bill:

Under the direction of the joint task force created in the bill, the WSIPP is required to conduct a study to determine the most appropriate and effective administrative structure for delivery of social and health services to the children and families of the state, including 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 WSIPP is required to compare the effectiveness of: including social and health services to children and families within an umbrella agency, such as the current DSHS; 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. As part of the comparison, the WSIPP is required to examine the administrative structures used in other states to deliver social and health services to children and families.

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 is required to direct the study conducted by the WSIPP pursuant to the bill. Membership of the joint task force is to consist of the following:

The Dean of the School of Social Work at the University of Washington or the academic professor; jointly appointed by the Chairs of the House Children and Family Services Committee and the Senate Human Services and Corrections Committee, is to be the chair of the joint task force.

The WSIPP is required to 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:

The WSIPP is required to make recommendations concerning the costs, benefits, savings, or reductions in services associated with the various administrative structures considered in the study.

The WSIPP is required to report its recommendations to the joint task force created in the bill by December 1, 2005.

Amended Bill Compared to Engrossed Substitute Bill:

The joint task force created in the bill is required to direct, rather than itself conduct, the study required in the bill. The WSIPP is charged with conducting the study under the direction of the joint task force.

In comparing the effectiveness of administrative structures, the WSIPP is required to consider creation of a children and family services cabinet reporting directly to the Governor.

The following changes are made to the membership of the joint task force:

The WSIPP is required to report its recommendations to the joint task force created in the bill by December 1, 2005.

The emergency clause is removed.


Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date of Amended Bill: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: (In support) This bill is somewhat controversial in the fact that it is changing the status quo. Too many children in the custody of the state have died. It continues to be an ongoing problem of repeating same mistakes. The number one concern is keeping children safe. By dividing the CA away from the DSHS, it would place a greater emphasis on the safety of children by making the administrator of that agency a cabinet-level position. It is possible that the CA is being lost in the overall big organization of the DSHS. Breaking apart a state agency is a complicated process, but we need to closer look at the advisability of dividing the CA out. It seems appropriate that the School of Social Work should take the lead in this process. Given the connections between child welfare and juvenile justice, it seems only logical to also include the JRA in these considerations. Overall, there is a lot to look at here.

(With amendments) In looking at breaking apart any section of the DSHS, it would be good to know or have a better sense of what outcomes you hope to achieve with the new configuration. You have to look at what a children's department should be, what it should include. The idea of having a task force take a look at this is the best approach. The make- up of the task force should be a bit different, including people from community-based organizations and an outside expert in child welfare.

Testimony Against: Increasing the safety, permanency, and well-being of children and families in the state is a shared goal. Increasing accountability, particularly to the public, is also a shared goal. The DSHS anticipates many changes in the future, particularly in children's services. The bill should be held off while the DSHS undertakes changes.

Persons Testifying: (In support) Senator Stevens, prime sponsor.

(With amendments) Laurie Lippold, Children's Home Society.

(Opposed) Robin Arnold-Williams, Department of Social and Health Services.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.


HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Majority Report: Do pass as amended by Committee on Appropriations and without amendment by Committee on Children and Family Services. Signed by 28 members: Representatives Sommers, Chair; Fromhold, Vice Chair; Alexander, Ranking Minority Member; Anderson, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; McDonald, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Bailey, Buri, Clements, Cody, Conway, Darneille, Dunshee, Grant, Haigh, Hinkle, Hunter, Kagi, Kenney, Kessler, Linville, McDermott, McIntire, Miloscia, Pearson, Priest, Schual-Berke, Talcott and Walsh.

Staff: Amy Skei (786-7140).

Summary of Recommendation of Committee On Appropriations Compared to Recommendation of Committee On Children & Family Services:

The Appropriations Committee amendment removes the requirement that Washington State Institute for Public Policy (WSIPP) conduct a study under the direction of the joint task force, changes the membership of the task force, and states that the task force will be staffed by the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date of Amended Bill: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: We are in support of examining and improving the structure used to deliver services to children and families and would like to be involved in any such efforts.

Testimony Against: None.

Persons Testifying: Laurie Lippold, Childrens Home Society.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.