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; and creating new sections.

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

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.