HOUSE BILL REPORT
E2SSB 6239
As Reported by House Committee On:
Criminal Justice & Corrections
Title: An act relating to the impact of controlled substances, primarily methamphetamine.
Brief Description: Changing provisions relating to controlled substances.
Sponsors: Senate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators Hargrove, Johnson, Doumit, Oke, Stevens and Esser; by request of Attorney General).
Brief History:
Criminal Justice & Corrections: 2/21/06, 2/23/06 [DPA].
Brief Summary of Engrossed Second Substitute Bill (As Amended by House Committee) |
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE & CORRECTIONS
Majority Report: Do pass as amended. Signed by 7 members: Representatives O'Brien, Chair; Darneille, Vice Chair; Pearson, Ranking Minority Member; Ahern, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Kirby, Strow and Williams.
Staff: Yvonne Walker (786-7841), Amy Van Horn (786-7168), Elisabeth Frost (786-5793), Sarah Dylag (786-7109), and Sydney Forrester (786-7120).
Background:
I. Sales and Use Tax. In 2005, the Legislature passed an omnibus Mental and Substance
Abuse Disorder Treatment bill that authorized a local option sales and use tax of 0.1 of 1
percent to provide new or expanded chemical dependency or mental health services. Moneys
were to be used solely for the purpose of providing new or expanded chemical dependency or
mental health treatment services and for the operation of new or expanded therapeutic court
programs.
As of January 1, 2006, no county has imposed the new authorized tax.
II. Therapeutic Drug and Substance Treatment. The Department of Corrections (DOC)
currently limits chemical dependency treatment to certain inmates. Inmates prioritized for
treatment include those determined to be at high risk for violent re-offending and those
sentenced under the Drug Offender Sentencing Alternative (DOSA). On January 1, 2006, the
DOC had a therapeutic community capacity of 475 beds.
III. Multijurisdictional Narcotics Task Forces. The Department of Community, Trade, and
Economic Development (DCTED) provides technical and financial assistance to local
governments and community-based organizations. Among other responsibilities, the DCTED
solicits and allocates federal funding for local narcotics task forces. The vast majority of
federal funding for multijurisdictional narcotics task forces is allocated to local governments
by the DCTED, which receives the funding through the Justice Assistance Grant (JAG), a
federal grant program. However, some counties receive a small amount of federal funding
for narcotics enforcement directly through the JAG program.
In Fiscal Year (FY) 2004, the DCTED allocated approximately $5.5 million in federal
funding to support multijurisdictional narcotics task forces. Approximately $3.5 million of
this funding was allocated to local units of government to continue multijurisdictional
narcotics task forces, and $611,177 was allocated to the DCTED to continue the Drug
Prosecution Assistance Program in support of multijurisdictional narcotics task forces.
In FY 2006, the total amount of federal funding available was reduced, and the DCTED
allocated $2.4 million in federal funding to support multijurisdictional narcotics task forces,
with approximately $2 million allocated to local units of government to continue
multijurisdictional narcotics task forces, and $330,000 to the DCTED to continue the Drug
Prosecution Assistance Program in support of multijurisdictional narcotics task forces.
While most Washington counties have been part of a federally funded narcotics task force, 12
counties (Columbia, Lincoln, Pacific, Pend Oreille, Stevens, Walla Walla, Island, Jefferson,
Kittitas, Klickitat, Mason, and San Juan) have not been members of a federally funded
narcotics task force.
IV. Drug Courts. Drug courts, unlike traditional courts, divert non-violent drug offenders
into court-ordered treatment programs rather than jail or prison. The program allows
defendants arrested for drug possession to choose an intensive, heavily supervised
rehabilitation program in lieu of incarceration and a criminal record. The term "drug court" is
defined as a court that has special calendars or dockets designed to achieve a reduction in
recidivism and substance abuse among non-violent, substance-abusing offenders by
increasing their likelihood for successful rehabilitation through early, continuous, and intense
judicially supervised treatment; mandatory periodic drug testing; and the use of appropriate
sanctions and other rehabilitation services.
In 2002, the Legislature passed 2SHB 2338 (Chapter 290, Laws of 2002) that created a
Criminal Justice Treatment Account (Account) in the state treasury. In 2003, the Legislature
passed ESSB 5990 (Chapter 379, Laws of 2003) which appropriated a total of $8.9 million to
the Account. Funds in the Account may be spent solely for substance abuse treatment and
support services for adult offenders with a chemical dependency problem against whom
charges are filed by a prosecuting attorney in Washington and for non-violent adult offenders
participating in drug courts. No more than 10 percent of the funds may be spent for support
services.
V. Children and Vulnerable Adults. State laws relating to abuse and neglect of children and
vulnerable adults include provisions for mandatory reporting and investigation of allegations
of neglect or abuse of these populations. A child means any person under the age of 18 years.
A vulnerable adult includes a person who: (1) is age 60 years and over who has a functional,
physical, or mental inability for self-care; (2) has been found to be incapacitated; (3) has a
developmental disability; (4) resides in a nursing home, adult family home, residential
habilitation center, or other licensed facility; or (5) is receiving hospice or home health
services.
For the purposes of mandatory reporting, investigation, and protective services, abuse and
neglect of a child means the injury, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, negligent treatment, or
maltreatment of a child. Under the vulnerable adults statute, neglect means, conduct by a
caregiver that: (1) fails to provide goods and services to maintain physical or mental health
or that fails to prevent or avoid physical or mental harm to the vulnerable adult; or (2)
demonstrates a serious disregard of consequences constituting a clear and present danger to
the vulnerable adult's health, welfare, or safety.
Endangerment with a controlled substance.
The offense of endangerment with a controlled substance (a seriousness level IV, class B
felony) occurs when a person knowingly or intentionally permits a dependent child or
dependent adult to be exposed to, ingest, inhale, or have contact with (1) methamphetamine;
or (2) ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, or anhydrous ammonia, including their salts, isomers, and
salts of isomers that are being used in the manufacture of methamphetamine.
VI. The Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development. The DCTED is
responsible for assisting in community and economic development in the state; providing
technical and financial assistance to local governments, businesses, and community-based
organizations; soliciting private and federal grants for economic and community development
programs; and conducting research and analysis to support economic and community
development efforts.
VII. Faith-Based Organizations. Residential and outpatient chemical dependency treatment
programs may choose to be regulated by the Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse
(DASA) of the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS). Certification of programs
is voluntary. In addition, residential chemical dependency treatment programs must meet
licensing requirements established by the Department of Health (DOH).
State and federal treatment funding currently is limited to programs certified by the DASA.
To be certified, programs that include a religious component must make participation in that
aspect of the program voluntary.
VIII. Agency Council on Coordinated Transportation. In 1998, the Legislature created the
Agency Council on Coordinated Transportation (Council), declaring its intent to coordinate
transportation services and programs that provide those transportation services to achieve
increased efficiencies and to provide a greater number of persons with special transportation
needs.
The Council consists of nine voting members and eight non-voting legislative members. The
nine voting members include the Secretary of Transportation, who serves as chair; the
Secretary of the DSHS; the Superintendent of Public Instruction; and six members appointed
by the Governor, representing consumers of special needs transportation, pupil transportation,
the Community Transportation Association of the Northwest, the Community Action Council
Association, and the State Transit Association. The eight non-voting legislative members
include four members of the House of Representatives and four members of the Senate
(representing each caucus) and the House and Senate Transportation Committees, House
Appropriations, and Senate Ways and Means Committee.
The Council is responsible for: (1) developing standards and strategies for coordinating
special needs transportation; (2) identifying, developing, funding (as resources are available),
and monitoring demonstration projects; (3) identifying barriers to coordinated transportation;
(4) recommending statutory changes to the Legislature to assist in coordinated transportation;
and (5) working with the Office of Financial Management to make necessary changes for
identification of transportation costs in executive agency budgets.
IX. Anti-Methampethamine Campaigns. The DASA of the DSHS promotes strategies that
support healthy lifestyles by preventing the misuse of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs, and
support recovery from the disease of chemical dependency.
The Office of the Attorney General (AG) is responsible for defending state laws. In 2005, the
AG formed an education program partnered with community-based organizations and
industry associations to increase the awareness and prevention of the use of
methampethamine.
X. Contaminated Property. State law describes how properties that have been contaminated
by the manufacture or use of illegal drugs are to be handled. The provisions involve
reporting of the contaminated property, notice of the property being unfit for use,
decontamination requirements, and contractor certification.
Reporting and notice of a contaminated property.
A law enforcement officer that discovers a property that has been contaminated to the point
where it is unfit for human habitation must notify the local health officer. The local health
officer must then post a written notice on the property and conduct an inspection of the
property within 14 days. Notice of contamination can also be submitted by the property's
owner or be discovered by the local health officer directly. If the local health officer suspects
a property is contaminated, the officer may enter and inspect the property.
Determining a property unfit for use.
The local health officer may determine if a property is unfit for use due to chemical
contamination. If this determination is made, the local health officer must prohibit use of the
property. Notice of this prohibition must be delivered to the property's owner and posted on
the actual property itself. The property owner may request a hearing to dispute the finding
that the property is unfit. In the hearing, the property owner has the burden of showing that
the property is not contaminated or has already been cleaned to an acceptable level.
Actions upon finding of contamination.
Cities and counties have the option of condemning or demolishing contaminated properties.
The local government must wait until all hearings have been exhausted before a demolition
can occur. Alternatively, the owner of the property can pay to have the property
decontaminated. If the owner chooses this course, then he or she must hire a contractor
certified by the DOH. The contractor must present a decontamination plan to the local health
officer, and upon its successful execution, the unfit for use determination may be lifted. The
local health officer may charge the property owner fees for reviewing the plan and
reinspecting the property.
Contractor certification.
A property owner may only hire a contractor for decontamination work if the contractor has
been approved by the DOH. The DOH maintains performance standards and standards for
training and testing contractors to ensure that they are capable of dealing with the
contamination left behind from illegal drug manufacturing. Contractors can lose their
certification if they violate certain standards set by the DOH.
XI. Drug-Free School Zones. If an offender is sentenced for committing certain violations
of the Uniform Control Substance Act (UCSA) in a drug-free protected zone, a two-year
sentence enhancement may be added to the offender's sentence. A person is subject to
enhanced sentencing if he or she manufactures, sells, delivers, or possesses with intent to
manufacture, sell, or deliver, a controlled substance in public areas such as schools, school
buses, school bus stops, school grounds, public parks, public housing projects designated as
drug-free zones, public transit vehicles, public transit stop shelters, or civic centers
designated as drug-free zones. In addition, the maximum imprisonment sentence and fine
may be increased up to double the amount imposed for the underlying conviction (up to the
statutory maximum penalty imposed for the offense).
In State v. Jacobs, 120 Wn. App. 1059 (2004), the defendants challenged the statutory
language regarding the sentence enhancements for violations of the UCSA on the grounds
that they believed multiple sentence enhancements should be applied concurrently instead of
consecutively. The courts concluded that the statutory language appeared ambiguous and as a
result, under the rule of lenity, it was ruled that sentencing courts should apply multiple
sentencing enhancements concurrently to each other.
XII. Prison-Based Special Drug Offender Sentencing Alternative. The prison-based DOSA
is an alternative sentencing program that allows a court to waive imposition of an offender's
sentence within the standard sentencing range. However, the standard sentence range for the
offender's current offense must be greater than one year for the offense that he or she is being
charged with. If the court determines that a prison-based DOSA sentence is appropriate for
an offender, then it may impose an alternative sentence that includes confinement in a state
facility for one-half of the midpoint of the standard sentencing range. While in confinement,
the offender must complete a substance abuse assessment and receive, within available
resources, substance abuse treatment and counseling.
The offender must spend the remainder of the midpoint of the standard sentencing range in
community custody following incarceration. The community custody portion of the sentence
must include alcohol and substance abuse treatment. Offenders may also be required to
adhere to crime related prohibitions and affirmative conditions as part of their sentence, as
well as pay a $30 per month fee while on community custody to offset the cost of monitoring.
XIII. Chemical Dependency Screening Reports. Before imposing a sentence upon a
defendant, the court must conduct a sentencing hearing. As part of that sentencing hearing,
the court must order the DOC to complete a chemical dependency screening report before
imposing a sentence. These reports are only completed if the defendant has been convicted
of a violation (or a criminal solicitation to commit a violation) of the UCSA, where the court
finds that the offender has a chemical dependency that contributed to his or her offense.
XIV. Washington State Institute for Public Policy (WSIPP). The WSIPP carries out
non-partisan research at the direction of the Legislature. Various studies over the years have
centered around the following issues: education, criminal justice, welfare, children and adult
services, health, utilities, and general government. Fiscal and administrative services for the
WSIPP are provided by The Evergreen State College.
Summary of Amended Bill:
I. Sales and Use Tax. Any county imposing the sales and use tax for new or expanded
mental health services is eligible to seek a state appropriation of $100,000 annually in FYs
2008, 2009, and 2010. The funds must be used to provide additional mental health or
substance abuse services for persons with methamphetamine addiction. Local governments
receiving appropriated funds are prohibited from supplanting existing funding.
Any county receiving funding must: (1) provide an expenditure plan prior to funds being
awarded; (2) report annually to the appropriate committees of the Legislature regarding the
number of clients served, services provided, and a statement of expenditures; and (3) spend
no more than 10 percent for administrative or information technology costs.
II. Therapeutic Drug and Substance Treatment. The Legislature intends to provide 100
additional placements above the level of treatment placements provided on January 1, 2006,
for therapeutic drug and alcohol treatment in prisons until June 30, 2010. The statutory
language authorizing this legislative intent expires on June 30, 2010.
III. Multijurisdictional Narcotics Task Forces. The Legislature intends to provide a
minimum of $4 million for an annual combined level of state and federal funding for
multijurisdictional drug task forces and local government drug prosecution assistance.
The Legislature further intends to provide assistance for jurisdictions enforcing illegal drug
laws who have historically been under-served by federally funded state narcotics task forces
and are considered to be major transport areas of narcotic traffickers.
Pilot enforcement areas.
Beginning July 1, 2006, three pilot enforcement areas are established for a period of four
fiscal years. The pilot enforcement areas will work together to establish and implement a
regional strategy to enforce illegal drug laws. The pilot enforcement areas are to be
comprised of the following groups of counties:
The Legislature intends to provide a minimum of $1.575 million annually, to be divided
equally among the three pilot enforcement areas. This funding is intended to provide at the
minimum, for each of the pilot areas, four additional sheriff deputies, two deputy prosecutors,
a court clerk, and clerical staff. The Legislature intends that those counties that have not
previously received significant federal narcotics task force funding must be allocated funding
for at least one additional sheriff's deputy.
Counties are encouraged to utilize drug courts and treatment programs and to share resources
that operate in the region through the use of interlocal agreements. Funding appropriated
must be used for the enforcement of illegal drug laws and cannot be used to supplant existing
funding.
Funds will be allocated as follows: the Criminal Justice Training Commission will allocate
funds to the Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys (WAPA) and the Washington
Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC). The WAPA is responsible for the
administration of the funding and programs for the prosecution of crimes and court
proceedings. The WASPC is responsible for the administration of the funds provided for law
enforcement.
The WAPA, the WASPC, and the Washington Association of County Officials must jointly
develop measures to determine the efficacy of the pilot programs. They must present their
findings regarding these measures to the Legislature by December 1, 2008. These measures
must include a comparison of arrest rates before and after the implementation of the pilot
program, the reduction of recidivism, and any other factors that are determined to be relevant
to evaluating the programs.
IV. Drug Courts. The definition of "drug court" is expanded to include juvenile drug courts
in addition to adult drug courts. As a result, in addition to funding substance abuse treatment
and support services for adult offenders with a chemical dependency problem, revenues to the
Criminal Justice Treatment Account may also be spent for juvenile offenders participating in
drug courts.
V. Children and Vulnerable Adults. The definition of neglect within both the vulnerable
adults statute and the abuse of children statute is expanded to include the crime of
endangerment with a controlled substance.
Language is removed from the child abuse and neglect statute that will take effect January 1,
2007, regarding: (1) no entitlement to services; and (2) no judicial authority to order the
provision of services.
VI. The Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development. The DCTED is
charged with reviewing federal, state, and local funding sources and levels available to local
methamphetamine action teams through the Washington State Methamphetamine Initiative to
determine whether funding is adequate to accomplish the mission of the methamphetamine
action teams. The DCTED must also review the funding levels for individual drug task
forces in Washington to determine if they require additional resources to successfully
interdict drug trafficking organizations and clandestine labs statewide. A report on their
findings and recommendations must be submitted to the Legislature by November 1, 2006.
The requirement for the DCTED to review the funding sources for the methamphetamine
action teams is null and void unless funded in the Omnibus Appropriations Act.
VII. Faith-Based Organizations. The DSHS must consult with faith-based organizations to
discuss the appropriate role that such organizations may have in filling support service
delivery needs for persons with chemical dependency disorders. The DSHS' findings and
recommendations must be submitted to the Legislature by November 1, 2006.
VIII. Agency Council on Coordinated Transportation (Council). As part of its strategic
plan, the Council must adopt a plan to provide recovering addicts with increased access to
existing special needs transportation services already provided by Medicaid brokerages and
local transportation coalitions. The Council is authorized to implement an awareness
campaign to focus helping recovering addicts use special need transportation services, the
Council website, and the statewide trip planner. The Council must submit a report to the
Legislature regarding the implementation of these strategies by November 1, 2006.
IX. Anti-Methamphetamine Campaigns. The DSHS, in consultation with the AG, must
submit a report to the Legislature by January 15, 2007, on the status of ongoing multimedia
campaigns for the prevention of methamphetamine use, underage drinking, and the
promotion of chemical dependency treatment within Washington.
X. Contaminated Property. The definition of "hazardous chemical" is expanded to include
the final product of drug manufacturing, and not just the precursor elements needed to
manufacture illegal drugs. In addition, the definition of "property" is expanded to include
personal property (in addition to real property) and storage sheds.
Administrative Warrants.
If a local health officer is denied access to a property he or she reasonably suspects is
contaminated due to the manufacture of illegal drugs, the officer, in consultation with law
enforcement, may seek an administrative warrant from a court in order to perform
administrative inspections and to seize property. The court must determine that probable
cause exists that the property is contaminated.
Third-Party Sampling.
The DOH shall develop rules to conduct independent third-party sampling of decontaminated
properties in order to verify satisfactory decontamination.
XI. Drug-Free School Zones. Statutory language is clarified to specify that all sentence
enhancements relating to violations of the UCSA in drug-free zones are to be run
consecutively to all other sentencing provisions for all sentences under the Sentencing
Reform Act.
XII. Prison-Based Special Drug Offender Sentencing Alternative. The prison confinement
time for an offender serving a prison-based DOSA sentence is expanded. If the court
determines that a prison-based DOSA sentence is appropriate for an offender, then it may
impose the alternative sentence that includes confinement in a state facility for one-half of the
midpoint of the standard sentencing range or 12 months, whichever is greater.
XIII. Chemical Dependency Screening Reports. In addition to those offenders that have
been convicted of a drug crime, the court must order the DOC to complete a chemical
dependency screening report before imposing a sentence upon a defendant that has been
convicted of "any" type of a felony where the court finds that the offender has a chemical
dependency that contributed to his or her offense.
XIV. Washington State Institute for Public Policy. The WSIPP must conduct a study of
criminal sentencing provisions of neighboring states for all crimes involving
methamphetamine. The report must include any criminal sentencing increases necessary
under Washington law to reduce or remove any incentives methamphetamine traffickers and
manufacturers may have to locate in Washington. The report must be completed and
submitted to the Legislature by January 1, 2007.
The WSIPP must also conduct a study of the DOSA program. The WSIPP must study
recidivism rates for offenders who received substance abuse treatment while in confinement
as compared to offenders who received treatment in the community or received no treatment.
The WSIPP must report its findings to the Legislature by January 1, 2007.
Amended Bill Compared to Engrossed Second Substitute Bill:
All new sections added to the bill relating to the "Drug-Free Work Force" were deleted.
All new sections relating to "contaminated property" were deleted and instead SHB 2901 as
passed by the Natural Resources, Ecology and Parks Committee was inserted in its place.
That bill did the following:
In addition, a change was made to require the DCTED (instead of the DOH) to study the
feasibility of providing incentives and protections to landlords to encourage them to rent
housing to recovering substance abusers or convicted drug offenders. The DCTED must
make a final report to the Legislature by January 1, 2007.
A technical amendment was made to reposition the references to criminal conduct such that
for child abuse and neglect, and for neglect of a vulnerable adult, actual harm does not need
to occur in order for the criminal conduct to constitute child abuse or neglect or neglect of the
vulnerable adult.
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, except for section 110, the expansion of the definition of neglect in the vulnerable adult statute, and section 111, removing language for the child abuse and neglect statute required no entitlement to services, which takes effect January 1, 2007. However, section 113, the DCTED study of methampethamine (meth) actions teams of the bill is null and void unless funded in the budget.
Testimony For: (In support) Meth use is truly a deadly disease. The good news is that since
2001 the number of meth labs in the state has decreased. But reducing meth labs is not the
same as reducing meth use. There continues to be an increase in meth addiction in this state.
This is an omnibus bill that takes a comprehensive look at not only meth issues but all drugs
in general. The issues surrounding treatment, housing, transportation, and employment are
all necessary for ensuring that offenders do not continuously cycle in and out of the system.
Although the state has tried to solve Washington drug problems in a piecemeal approach in
the past, this bill is a way to address the meth issue in a comprehensive way.
This bill is a bi-partisan review of the challenges faced by law enforcement and local health
officers in responding to drug contaminated properties. Many times they are asked to search
certain properties but the owners will not allow them to do that. The section of the bill that
allows for administrative warrants to be issued will help local health officials to do their job
easier. The bill will help to place certain statutes relating to local health officers' authority
presently residing in other statutes in their rightful place. It will also make it easier for the
health officials to work with local prosecutors and local law enforcement officers to carry out
the intent of this bill.
The Justice Assistance Grant (also known as the Byrne Grant) is administrated through the
DCTED. Currently, the President's budget will eliminate the state's grant funding altogether.
Historically, this money has funded a variety of programs. The sections of E2SSB 6239
allocating $4 million to local jurisdiction will help to backfill that money. In addition, the
sections that give localities up to $100,000 for drug treatment and adds 100 beds to the DOC
are also a good addition to expand drug treatment availability throughout the state. This bill
will help to backfill the federal funding that was cut for drug task forces.
The drug-free work place provisions of the bill are almost identical to some provisions that
went into place back in 1966 through 2000. Since eligible employers are required to have
health insurance and employee assistance programs, businesses saw the benefits of this
program radiate out to the worker, the family, the community, and to the neighborhoods.
This bill is a good anti-meth, anti-drug, and pro-employee bill. Although, the bill provides
opportunity for rehabilitation, in the past when employees have tested positive for drugs, 40
percent turned down the opportunity for getting help and keeping their jobs. This is a good
bill for small businesses since most of the large companies already have a program like the
one listed in the bill.
This bill takes a three-pronged approach at addressing the challenges around addiction, the
environment, and law enforcement.
(Neutral with concerns) Although many of the areas identified for pilots have a
disproportionate rate of people having a chemical dependency problem, many of the rural
counties are border counties to Canada and they would like to be part of the pilot meth
enforcement areas proposed in the bill. The definition of real property should also be
expanded to include land, parcel of land, and plots of land.
This bill is a way for the entire state to deal with meth in a proactive way.
Testimony Against: There will be an amendment offered to exempt hotels and motels from
this bill. As an industry they already work with the DOH and there have not been any issues
regarding the industry not cooperating. If a hotel had to post a notice on its front door for 45
days about it having a meth-lab, then it would literally kill their business.
In addition, businesses go through a rate setting process every year which is difficult and
contentious. Employers and workers who contribute to the worker compensation system are
always concerned about what their rates are going to be. Superimposing a 5 percent
reduction in the premiums that are being paid would create a crisis in terms of the funding of
the 608 and 609 funds. There was no consultation with the stakeholders in putting together
this portion of the bill. You are giving a 5 percent windfall to companies that already have
drug-free work environments. They would get a rebate for doing nothing. This causes a cost
shift to other employers who would have to deal with the worker's compensation system.
It is not a good strategy to use worker compensation premiums for drug-free work places,
especially since most employers have already created them.
Section 111 of the bill is a problem to the DSHS. It eliminates the non-entitlement language
relating to provisions of voluntary services to parents in neglect cases as an alternative to
filing dependency petitions. Since these services are voluntary, the DSHS wants to be sure
that these services are available when needed and are available within legislatively
appropriated amounts.
Persons Testifying: (In support) Senator Hargrove, prime sponsor; Senator Johnson; Rob
McKenna, Attorney General; Sandra Fangen Ross, Clallam County Meth Action Team and
Clallam County Sheriff's Office; Tom Pool, Drug-Free Business; Henry Govert, Drug-Free
Training; Tony Barrett, Washington State Association of Local Public Health Officials; Seth
Dawson and Paul Billeci, CiviGenics, Inc., Janice Ellis, Snohomish County Prosecuting
Attorney; John Flood, Snohomish Regional Drug Task Force; Jonelle Fenton-Wallace,
Snohomish Health District; Don Pierce, Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police
Chiefs; Mike Whelan, Grays Harbor County Sheriff; John Didion, Pacific County Sheriff;
and Marie Sullivan and Paul Perz, Department of Community, Trade, and Economic
Development.
(Neutral with concerns) Robert Malody, Department of Labor & Industries.
(Opposed) Sandra Miller, Ramada Inn Governor House; Robert Stern, Washington State
Labor Council; Mike Ryhard, Teamsters; and David Del Villar Fox, Department of Social
and Health Services.