Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research |
BILL ANALYSIS |
State Government & Tribal Affairs Committee | |
HB 1584
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in
their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a
statement of legislative intent.
Brief Description: Creating the institutions review commission.
Sponsors: Representatives Moeller, Jarrett, Springer, Dunshee, Darneille, Ormsby, Cody, Appleton, McCoy, Kagi, Morrell, Green and Lantz.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 2/16/07
Staff: Colleen Kerr (786-7168).
Background:
Washington has numerous state institutions created in statute for various purposes, including:
residential habilitation centers, community training centers, and group homes for persons with
disabilities; forest camps, community and group homes for juvenile offenders; outpatient clinics
for persons with mental health conditions; treatment and rehabilitation programs for persons
suffering from drug addiction; and state hospitals.
The following residential habilitation centers are created permanently in statute: Lakeland
Village at Medical Lake in Spokane County; the Rainier School at Buckley in Pierce County; the
Yakima Valley School at Selah in Yakima County; Fircrest School at Seattle in King County;
Frances Haddon Morgan Children's Center at Bremerton in Kitsap County; and the Interlake
School at the Eastern State Hospital at Medical Lake in Spokane County. These entities are
under the authority of the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS). The secretary of
the DSHS appoints a superintendent for each institution.
There are three outpatient hospitals created permanently in statute for persons with mental illness
and who require confinement: the Western State Hospital at Fort Steilacoom in Pierce County,
the Eastern State Hospital at Medical Lake in Spokane County, and the Northern State Hospital
near Sedro Woolley in Skagit County. These hospitals are under the authority of the DSHS. The
secretary of the DSHS appoints a superintendent for each institution.
Washington has a State School for the Blind and a State School for the Deaf both at Vancouver
in Clark County. Both schools are under the supervisions of a superintendent and a board of
trustees. The superintendent of each school is appointed by the Governor.
The Department of Corrections (DOC) is a state institution, which is created in statute to
establish a comprehensive system for correction of convicted law offenders and to ensure public
safety. The DOC system includes maximum, medium, and minimum security facilities for
inmates as well as prison work programs, litter cleanup programs, the work ethic camp program,
the Green Hill School for boys at Chehalis in Lewis County, the King County Juvenile
Correction Center, and the Maple Lane School for girls at Grand Mound in Thurston County.
The Washington Department of Veterans Affairs also has jurisdiction over state institutions: the
Soldiers' Home at Orting in Pierce County, the Veterans Home at Restil in Garfield County, and
the Spokane Veterans Home in Spokane County.
There is no comprehensive or formally structured review process to consider the physical and
locational aspects of state institutions, including the age and condition of buildings and the
proximity of facilities to state population centers, with regard to the policy objectives and goals
set by the Legislature for these state institutions.
Summary of Bill:
The Institutions Review Commission (Commission) is created to review the effectiveness of, and
the need for, state institutions.
The Commission will consist of nine members. The two largest caucuses in the House and
Senate shall each appoint one member. The remaining five members of the Commission shall be
appointed by the Governor. Commissioners must be appointed based on geographic
representation in the state. Commissioners may not reside in a legislative district where an
institution scheduled for review is located. State officials, public employees, representatives of
unions that represent public employees, lobbyists, and immediate family members of such
officials may not serve as commissioners. Commissioners shall receive a subsistence allowance
and travel expenses, but shall not otherwise receive compensation. They shall serve two-years
terms expiring July 1 of each odd-numbered year.
The Commission shall have autonomy to review all state institutions. State institutions include
the State School for the Blind, the State School for the Deaf, the Department of Corrections, the
Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Eastern, Northern, and Western State Hospitals as well
as residential habilitation centers, state institutions for juvenile offenders, and facilities
associated with the Washington National Guard Youth Challenge Program. The status of
existing residential habilitation centers and state hospitals is specifically subject to the
Commission's review.
The Commission will have the authority to investigate the efficiency of state institutions and to
make determinations for further action. These determinations may include decisions to
consolidate, expand, close, replace, or retain an institution. The Commission will provide the
Governor and the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the House and Senate with its
decisions before December 1 of each even-numbered year. To fulfill, its duties, the Commission
shall:
Determinations regarding state institutions will be made pursuant to a review process. During this review process, the Commission must hold at least one public hearing for each institution under review. The hearing must be within the vicinity of the facility under review. When conducting its review, the Commission shall consider criteria including, but not limited to:
The Commission will follow a biennial review cycle. By May 31, 2009, and every
odd-numbered year thereafter, the Commission shall designate the institutions subject to review
in the following review cycle. During the first review cycle, the Commission will review the
State School for the Blind and the State School for the Deaf and make its decision by December
1, 2008. All state institutions shall be reviewed at least once during the first five consecutive
review cycles.
Decisions by the Commission are final unless the Legislature rejects or revises the decision by a
two-thirds vote of both the House and Senate. Commission decisions will go into effect the July
1st following the end of the preceding review cycle. The Governor shall implement these
decisions.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on February 12, 2007.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.