READ FIRST TIME 02/28/05.   

     AN ACT Relating to creating the joint task force on the administration and delivery of services to children and families; creating new sections; and declaring an emergency.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A task force on the administrative organization, structure, and delivery of services to children and families is created to determine the most appropriate and effective administrative structure for delivery of social and health services to children and families, including juvenile rehabilitation services. The task force shall study how best to ensure that an administration has defined lines of responsibility for delivering services to families and children in need and the best means for the public to hold government accountable for delivery of those services. The task force shall compare the effectiveness of including children and families services delivery within an umbrella agency, such as the current department of social and health services, with establishing a separate department for children and family services whose director reports directly to the governor and is not under the administration of an umbrella agency. The task force shall, as part of the comparison, examine the administrative structures used in other states for the delivery of services to children and families.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   (1) The task force created in section 1 of this act shall consist of the following members appointed by the governor:
     (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;
     (b) Two members of the senate, from names recommended by the chair of the senate committee on human services and corrections, which must include one member from the minority party;
     (c) Two members of the house of representatives, from names recommended by the chair of the committee on children and family services, which must include one member from the minority party;
     (d) An academic professor with expertise in the management of public agencies, from a list of names recommended by the dean of the University of Washington's Daniel J. Evans graduate school of public administration;
     (e) A juvenile court administrator, from a list of names recommended by the juvenile court administrators' association;
     (f) A family superior court judge, from a list of names recommended by the superior court judges' association;
     (g) A law enforcement officer with experience in working with child protective services investigations, from a list of names recommended by the Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs;
     (h) The director of the office of public defense;
     (i) The director of the office of the family and children's ombudsman;
     (j) A line worker from the department of social and health services, juvenile rehabilitation administration's community supervision and placement services, from a list of names recommended by the federation of state employees;
     (k) A line social worker from the department of social and health services with a master's degree in social work and fifteen years' experience in the public or private sector investigating child abuse or neglect and referring families and children to alcohol and substance abuse services, from a list of names recommended by the federation of state employees;
     (l) A private vendor of mental health services to families of children and children in both in-home and out-of-home placements as a result of abuse or neglect or for juvenile rehabilitation, from a list of names recommended by the Washington state coalition of children's residential services;
     (m) The director of the department of social and health services, children's administration, office of legislative affairs; and
     (n) A representative of the governor's office.
     (2) The dean of the school of social work at the University of Washington or the academic professor appointed by the governor shall be the chair of the task force.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   (1) The task force shall study and report findings and recommendations on which administrative and service delivery structures will best accomplish positive outcomes for children and families and efficiencies in administration, including but not limited to:
     (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;
     (i) Increasing responsibility and accountability for achieving goals; and
     (j) Improving any other measurable outcomes for children and families.
     (2) The task force shall study and report findings and recommendations on the costs, benefits, savings, or reductions in services of the various administrative and service delivery structures described in section 1 of this act.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   The first meeting of the task force shall be no later than May 1, 2005, with subsequent meetings as needed. The task force may consult with others as is needed.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   The final report of the findings and recommendations shall be provided to appropriate committees of the legislature by December 1, 2005.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6   This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately.