BILL REQ. #:  S-3053.1 

Read first time 04/16/09.   Referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

     AN ACT Relating to chemical dependency specialist services; and amending RCW 70.96A.037.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 70.96A.037 and 2005 c 504 s 305 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The department of social and health services shall contract for chemical dependency specialist services at ((each)) division of children and family services offices to enhance the timeliness and quality of child protective services assessments and to better connect families to needed treatment services.
     (2) The chemical dependency specialist's duties may include, but are not limited to: Conducting on-site chemical dependency screening and assessment, facilitating progress reports to department social workers, in-service training of department social workers and staff on substance abuse issues, referring clients from the department to treatment providers, and providing consultation on cases to department social workers.
     (3) The department of social and health services shall provide training in and ensure that each case-carrying social worker is trained in uniform screening for mental health and chemical dependency.