Brief Description: Creating an "investing in youth program."

Sponsors: Representatives Dickerson, McDonald, Moeller, Darneille, Jarrett, Simpson, Morrell, Sommers, Kenney, McDermott, Kagi, Chase and Clibborn.

Hearing Date: 2/2/05

Staff: Sonja Hallum (786-7092).

Background:

In 2003, the Legislature directed the Washington State Institute for Public Policy (WSIPP) to review research assessing the effectiveness of prevention and early intervention programs concerning children and youth. The Legislature required the WSIPP to use the research to identify specific research-proven programs that produce a positive return on the dollar compared to the costs of the program. The WSIPP was also required to develop criteria designed to ensure quality implementation and program fidelity of research-proven programs in the state.

As part of this project, the Legislature also directed the WSIPP to investigate ways in which local government can be encouraged to develop economically attractive prevention and early intervention programs.

As a result of the study, the WSIPP found that some prevention and early intervention programs for youth can give taxpayers a good return on their dollar. The study identified several programs that, if properly implemented, are likely to reduce taxpayer and other costs in the future. The WSIPP developed a table that summarized the benefits and costs of the specific research-proven programs that were evaluated

In addition to evaluating specific programs, the report recommended that the state determine a set of research-based prevention and early intervention programs that would be eligible for reimbursement. The WSIPP recommended establishing an entity to develop a list of approved research-based prevention and early intervention programs. The WSIPP also identified a set of methods to be used as tools to help identify those programs that produce the best return for taxpayers.

The WSIPP also found that another responsibility of the state entity might be to develop an incentive reimbursement methodology for review by the Legislature and Governor. The purposes of the reimbursement formula would be to ensure that (a) the state receives high-quality implementation of the research-based programs by local government, and (b) local government receives a portion of the benefits that would otherwise accrue to the state as a result of the implementation of a successful prevention or early intervention program. The programs chosen must then be implemented with quality control and program fidelity.

Summary of Bill:

The Department of Community Trade and Economic Development (CTED) is required to establish a reinvesting in youth program that awards grants to counties for implementing research-based early intervention services that target juvenile justice-involved youth and reduce crime. The WSIPP and the Department of CTED are required to develop the guidelines for the implementation of the program. In order to participate in the program, counties must meet the following criteria:

(a)   Counties must demonstrate contributions from non-state sources to selected research-based services at least proportional to the local government share of state and local government cost avoidance;
(b)   Counties must demonstrate that state funds allocated pursuant to program are used only for the selected research-based services;
(c)   Counties must participate fully in the state quality assurance program to ensure fidelity of program implementation. If no state quality assurance program is in effect for a particular selected research-based service, the county must submit a quality assurance plan for state approval with its grant application. Failure to demonstrate continuing compliance with quality assurance plans shall be grounds for termination of state funding; and
(d)   Counties that submit joint applications must submit for approval by the Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development multi-county plans for efficient program delivery.

A pilot program is created to test methods for reinvestment of state savings that result from local investments in evidence-based services for juvenile justice involved youth. The pilot program will operate from July 1, 2005 to June 30, 2007 and is limited to three counties; however, effective July 1, 2007, all counties are eligible to participate in the program.

The criteria for the service models that will be eligible for the program are as follows:

(a)   There must be scientific evidence from at least one rigorous evaluation study of the specific service model that measures recidivism reduction;
(b)   There must be evidence that the specific service model's results can be replicated outside of an academic research environment;
(c)   The evaluation or evaluations of the service model must permit dollar cost estimates of both benefits and costs so that the benefit-cost ratio of the model can be calculated;
(d)   The public taxpayer benefits to all levels of state and local government must exceed the service model costs; and
(e) For the pilot program established during the 2005-2007 biennium, only the following    
   intervention service models shall be considered eligible for reimbursement: (i) functional family therapy, (ii) multi-systemic therapy, and (iii) aggression replacement training.

For the purposes of the pilot program, a formula for calculation of state and local savings is created.

Every four years WSIPP is required to update the calculations of savings accruing to the state and local governments and a technical work group will review and comment on the WSIPP findings. Calculations are created in which the counties will receive a reimbursement based upon the cost savings to the state.

The Department of CTED is required to update the factors that impact the reimbursement to the counties every four years beginning in 2006, and will use a technical working group to review and provide comments on its preliminary findings.

A reinvesting in youth account is created in the state treasury and moneys in the account may only be spent after appropriation. The amount of $997,000 is transferred from the general fund into the newly created reinvesting in youth account for the biennium beginning July 1, 2005. CTED will review and monitor expenditures made from this account.

The Departement of CTED is required to contract with the Department of Social and Health Services Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration for the establishment of a state quality assurance program.

The WSIPP is required to estimate the costs and benefits resulting from the implementation of the program and provide a report to the legislature, the Governor, and the Department of CTED by December 1, 2007 and every four years thereafter.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested on January 25, 2005.

Effective Date: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect on July 1, 2005.