BILL REQ. #:  S-4734.4 

READ FIRST TIME 03/04/10.   

     AN ACT Relating to consolidating forecast functions; amending RCW 9.94A.480, 9.94A.850, 10.98.140, 41.06.087, 43.88.030, 43.88.120, 74.09.470, 82.33.010, 82.33.020, and 74.09.470; adding new sections to chapter 82.33 RCW; creating a new section; repealing RCW 9.94A.855, 9.94A.863, 43.88C.010, 43.88C.020, and 43.88C.030; and providing an effective date.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that accurate forecasts of revenues and caseloads are essential to developing state budgets. The legislature further finds that, over time, the responsibilities for these forecasting and data analyses functions have been dispersed among several agencies. Therefore, the legislature concludes that these functions should be consolidated into a single forecasting agency to create efficiencies, simplify forecasting, simplify analysis, and enhance collaboration.

Sec. 2   RCW 9.94A.480 and 2002 c 290 s 16 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) A current, newly created or reworked judgment and sentence document for each felony sentencing shall record any and all recommended sentencing agreements or plea agreements and the sentences for any and all felony crimes kept as public records under RCW 9.94A.475 shall contain the clearly printed name and legal signature of the sentencing judge. The judgment and sentence document as defined in this section shall also provide additional space for the sentencing judge's reasons for going either above or below the presumptive sentence range for any and all felony crimes covered as public records under RCW 9.94A.475. Both the sentencing judge and the prosecuting attorney's office shall each retain or receive a completed copy of each sentencing document as defined in this section for their own records.
     (2) The ((sentencing guidelines commission)) economic and revenue forecast council shall be sent a completed copy of the judgment and sentence document upon conviction for each felony sentencing under subsection (1) of this section and shall compile a yearly and cumulative judicial record of each sentencing judge in regards to his or her sentencing practices for any and all felony crimes involving:
     (a) Any violent offense as defined in this chapter;
     (b) Any most serious offense as defined in this chapter;
     (c) Any felony with any deadly weapon special verdict under RCW ((9.94A.602)) 9.94A.825;
     (d) Any felony with any deadly weapon enhancements under RCW 9.94A.533 (3) or (4), or both; and/or
     (e) The felony crimes of possession of a machine gun, possessing a stolen firearm, drive-by shooting, theft of a firearm, unlawful possession of a firearm in the first or second degree, and/or use of a machine gun in a felony.
     (3) The ((sentencing guidelines commission)) economic and revenue forecast council shall compare each individual judge's sentencing practices to the standard or presumptive sentence range for any and all felony crimes listed in subsection (2) of this section for the appropriate offense level as defined in RCW 9.94A.515 or 9.94A.518, offender score as defined in RCW 9.94A.525, and any applicable deadly weapon enhancements as defined in RCW 9.94A.533 (3) or (4), or both. These comparative records shall be retained and made available to the public for review in a current, newly created or reworked official published document by the ((sentencing guidelines commission)) economic and revenue forecast council.
     (4) Any and all felony sentences which are either above or below the standard or presumptive sentence range in subsection (3) of this section shall also mark whether the prosecuting attorney in the case also recommended a similar sentence, if any, which was either above or below the presumptive sentence range and shall also indicate if the sentence was in conjunction with an approved alternative sentencing option including a first-time offender waiver, sex offender sentencing alternative, or other prescribed sentencing option.
     (5) If any completed judgment and sentence document as defined in subsection (1) of this section is not sent to the ((sentencing guidelines commission)) economic and revenue forecast council as required in subsection (2) of this section, the ((sentencing guidelines commission)) economic and revenue forecast council shall have the authority and shall undertake reasonable and necessary steps to assure that all past, current, and future sentencing documents as defined in subsection (1) of this section are received by the ((sentencing guidelines commission)) economic and revenue forecast council.

Sec. 3   RCW 9.94A.850 and 2009 c 375 s 8 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) A sentencing guidelines commission is established as an agency of state government.
     (2) The ((legislature finds that the commission, having accomplished its original statutory directive to implement this chapter, and having expertise in sentencing practice and policies,)) sentencing guidelines commission shall:
     (a) Evaluate state sentencing policy, to include whether the sentencing ranges and standards are consistent with and further:
     (i) The purposes of this chapter as defined in RCW 9.94A.010; and
     (ii) The intent of the legislature to emphasize confinement for the violent offender and alternatives to confinement for the nonviolent offender.
     The commission shall provide the governor and the legislature with its evaluation and recommendations under this subsection not later than December 1, 1996, and every two years thereafter;
     (b) Recommend to the legislature revisions or modifications to the standard sentence ranges, state sentencing policy, prosecuting standards, and other standards. If implementation of the revisions or modifications would result in exceeding the capacity of correctional facilities, then the commission shall accompany its recommendation with an additional list of standard sentence ranges which are consistent with correction capacity;
     (c) Study the existing criminal code and from time to time make recommendations to the legislature for modification;
     (d)(((i) Serve as a clearinghouse and information center for the collection, preparation, analysis, and dissemination of information on state and local adult and juvenile sentencing practices; (ii) develop and maintain a computerized adult and juvenile sentencing information system by individual superior court judge consisting of offender, offense, history, and sentence information entered from judgment and sentence forms for all adult felons; and (iii) conduct ongoing research regarding adult and juvenile sentencing guidelines, use of total confinement and alternatives to total confinement, plea bargaining, and other matters relating to the improvement of the adult criminal justice system and the juvenile justice system;
     (e))) Assume the powers and duties of the juvenile disposition standards commission after June 30, 1996; and
     (((f) Evaluate the effectiveness of existing disposition standards and related statutes in implementing policies set forth in RCW 13.40.010 generally, specifically review the guidelines relating to the confinement of minor and first-time offenders as well as the use of diversion, and review the application of current and proposed juvenile sentencing standards and guidelines for potential adverse impacts on the sentencing outcomes of racial and ethnic minority youth;
     (g))) (e) Solicit the comments and suggestions of the juvenile justice community concerning disposition standards, and make recommendations to the legislature regarding revisions or modifications of the standards. The evaluations shall be submitted to the legislature on December 1 of each odd-numbered year. The department of social and health services shall provide the commission with available data concerning the implementation of the disposition standards and related statutes and their effect on the performance of the department's responsibilities relating to juvenile offenders, and with recommendations for modification of the disposition standards. The administrative office of the courts shall provide the commission with available data on diversion, including the use of youth court programs, and dispositions of juvenile offenders under chapter 13.40 RCW((; and
     (h) Not later than December 1, 1997, and at least every two years thereafter, based on available information, report to the governor and the legislature on:
     (i) Racial disproportionality in juvenile and adult sentencing, and, if available, the impact that diversions, such as youth courts, have on racial disproportionality in juvenile prosecution, adjudication, and sentencing;
     (ii) The capacity of state and local juvenile and adult facilities and resources; and
     (iii) Recidivism information on adult and juvenile offenders)).
     (3) Each of the commission's recommended standard sentence ranges shall include one or more of the following: Total confinement, partial confinement, community supervision, community restitution, and a fine.
     (4) The standard sentence ranges of total and partial confinement under this chapter, except as provided in RCW 9.94A.517, are subject to the following limitations:
     (a) If the maximum term in the range is one year or less, the minimum term in the range shall be no less than one-third of the maximum term in the range, except that if the maximum term in the range is ninety days or less, the minimum term may be less than one-third of the maximum;
     (b) If the maximum term in the range is greater than one year, the minimum term in the range shall be no less than seventy-five percent of the maximum term in the range, except that for murder in the second degree in seriousness level XIV under RCW 9.94A.510, the minimum term in the range shall be no less than fifty percent of the maximum term in the range; and
     (c) The maximum term of confinement in a range may not exceed the statutory maximum for the crime as provided in RCW 9A.20.021.
     (5) The sentencing guidelines commission shall exercise its duties under this section in conformity with chapter 34.05 RCW. The commission shall review the monetary threshold amounts differentiating the various degrees of property crimes in Washington state to determine whether such amounts should be modified. The sentencing guidelines commission shall report to the legislature with its recommendations by November 1, 2014, and every five years thereafter.

Sec. 4   RCW 10.98.140 and 1987 c 462 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The section, the department, and the office of financial management shall be the primary sources of information for criminal justice forecasting. The information maintained by these agencies shall be complete, accurate, and sufficiently timely to support state criminal justice forecasting.
     (2) The office of financial management shall be the official state agency for the sentenced felon jail forecast. This forecast shall provide at least a six-year projection and shall be published by December 1 of every even-numbered year beginning with 1986. The office of financial management shall seek advice regarding the assumptions in the forecast from criminal justice agencies and associations.
     (3) The ((sentencing guidelines commission)) economic and revenue forecast council shall keep records on all sentencings above or below the standard range defined by chapter 9.94A RCW. As a minimum, the records shall include the name of the offender, the crimes for which the offender was sentenced, the name and county of the sentencing judge, and the deviation from the standard range. Such records shall be made available to public officials upon request.

Sec. 5   RCW 41.06.087 and 1997 c 168 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:
     In addition to the exemptions set forth in RCW 41.06.070, this chapter does not apply to the economic and revenue forecast supervisor and staff employed under RCW 82.33.010 ((or the caseload forecast supervisor and staff employed under RCW 43.88C.010)).

Sec. 6   RCW 43.88.030 and 2006 c 334 s 43 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The director of financial management shall provide all agencies with a complete set of instructions for submitting biennial budget requests to the director at least three months before agency budget documents are due into the office of financial management. The budget document or documents shall consist of the governor's budget message which shall be explanatory of the budget and shall contain an outline of the proposed financial policies of the state for the ensuing fiscal period, as well as an outline of the proposed six-year financial policies where applicable, and shall describe in connection therewith the important features of the budget. The biennial budget document or documents shall also describe performance indicators that demonstrate measurable progress towards priority results. The message shall set forth the reasons for salient changes from the previous fiscal period in expenditure and revenue items and shall explain any major changes in financial policy. Attached to the budget message shall be such supporting schedules, exhibits and other explanatory material in respect to both current operations and capital improvements as the governor shall deem to be useful to the legislature. The budget document or documents shall set forth a proposal for expenditures in the ensuing fiscal period, or six-year period where applicable, based upon the estimated revenues and caseloads as approved by the economic and revenue forecast council ((and caseload forecast council)) or upon the estimated revenues and caseloads of the office of financial management for those funds, accounts, sources, and programs for which the forecast ((councils do)) council does not prepare an official forecast. Revenues shall be estimated for such fiscal period from the source and at the rates existing by law at the time of submission of the budget document, including the supplemental budgets submitted in the even-numbered years of a biennium. However, the estimated revenues and caseloads for use in the governor's budget document may be adjusted to reflect budgetary revenue transfers and revenue and caseload estimates dependent upon budgetary assumptions of enrollments, workloads, and caseloads. All adjustments to the approved estimated revenues and caseloads must be set forth in the budget document. The governor may additionally submit, as an appendix to each supplemental, biennial, or six-year agency budget or to the budget document or documents, a proposal for expenditures in the ensuing fiscal period from revenue sources derived from proposed changes in existing statutes.
     The budget document or documents shall also contain:
     (a) Revenues classified by fund and source for the immediately past fiscal period, those received or anticipated for the current fiscal period, and those anticipated for the ensuing biennium;
     (b) The undesignated fund balance or deficit, by fund;
     (c) Such additional information dealing with expenditures, revenues, workload, performance, and personnel as the legislature may direct by law or concurrent resolution;
     (d) Such additional information dealing with revenues and expenditures as the governor shall deem pertinent and useful to the legislature;
     (e) Tabulations showing expenditures classified by fund, function, and agency;
     (f) The expenditures that include nonbudgeted, nonappropriated accounts outside the state treasury;
     (g) Identification of all proposed direct expenditures to implement the Puget Sound water quality plan under chapter 90.71 RCW, shown by agency and in total; and
     (h) Tabulations showing each postretirement adjustment by retirement system established after fiscal year 1991, to include, but not be limited to, estimated total payments made to the end of the previous biennial period, estimated payments for the present biennium, and estimated payments for the ensuing biennium.
     (2) The budget document or documents shall include detailed estimates of all anticipated revenues applicable to proposed operating or capital expenditures and shall also include all proposed operating or capital expenditures. The total of beginning undesignated fund balance and estimated revenues less working capital and other reserves shall equal or exceed the total of proposed applicable expenditures. The budget document or documents shall further include:
     (a) Interest, amortization and redemption charges on the state debt;
     (b) Payments of all reliefs, judgments, and claims;
     (c) Other statutory expenditures;
     (d) Expenditures incident to the operation for each agency;
     (e) Revenues derived from agency operations;
     (f) Expenditures and revenues shall be given in comparative form showing those incurred or received for the immediately past fiscal period and those anticipated for the current biennium and next ensuing biennium;
     (g) A showing and explanation of amounts of general fund and other funds obligations for debt service and any transfers of moneys that otherwise would have been available for appropriation;
     (h) Common school expenditures on a fiscal-year basis;
     (i) A showing, by agency, of the value and purpose of financing contracts for the lease/purchase or acquisition of personal or real property for the current and ensuing fiscal periods; and
     (j) A showing and explanation of anticipated amounts of general fund and other funds required to amortize the unfunded actuarial accrued liability of the retirement system specified under chapter 41.45 RCW, and the contributions to meet such amortization, stated in total dollars and as a level percentage of total compensation.
     (3) The governor's operating budget document or documents shall reflect the statewide priorities as required by RCW 43.88.090.
     (4) The governor's operating budget document or documents shall identify activities that are not addressing the statewide priorities.
     (5) A separate capital budget document or schedule shall be submitted that will contain the following:
     (a) A statement setting forth a long-range facilities plan for the state that identifies and includes the highest priority needs within affordable spending levels;
     (b) A capital program consisting of proposed capital projects for the next biennium and the two biennia succeeding the next biennium consistent with the long-range facilities plan. Insomuch as is practical, and recognizing emergent needs, the capital program shall reflect the priorities, projects, and spending levels proposed in previously submitted capital budget documents in order to provide a reliable long-range planning tool for the legislature and state agencies;
     (c) A capital plan consisting of proposed capital spending for at least four biennia succeeding the next biennium;
     (d) A strategic plan for reducing backlogs of maintenance and repair projects. The plan shall include a prioritized list of specific facility deficiencies and capital projects to address the deficiencies for each agency, cost estimates for each project, a schedule for completing projects over a reasonable period of time, and identification of normal maintenance activities to reduce future backlogs;
     (e) A statement of the reason or purpose for a project;
     (f) Verification that a project is consistent with the provisions set forth in chapter 36.70A RCW;
     (g) A statement about the proposed site, size, and estimated life of the project, if applicable;
     (h) Estimated total project cost;
     (i) For major projects valued over five million dollars, estimated costs for the following project components: Acquisition, consultant services, construction, equipment, project management, and other costs included as part of the project. Project component costs shall be displayed in a standard format defined by the office of financial management to allow comparisons between projects;
     (j) Estimated total project cost for each phase of the project as defined by the office of financial management;
     (k) Estimated ensuing biennium costs;
     (l) Estimated costs beyond the ensuing biennium;
     (m) Estimated construction start and completion dates;
     (n) Source and type of funds proposed;
     (o) Estimated ongoing operating budget costs or savings resulting from the project, including staffing and maintenance costs;
     (p) For any capital appropriation requested for a state agency for the acquisition of land or the capital improvement of land in which the primary purpose of the acquisition or improvement is recreation or wildlife habitat conservation, the capital budget document, or an omnibus list of recreation and habitat acquisitions provided with the governor's budget document, shall identify the projected costs of operation and maintenance for at least the two biennia succeeding the next biennium. Omnibus lists of habitat and recreation land acquisitions shall include individual project cost estimates for operation and maintenance as well as a total for all state projects included in the list. The document shall identify the source of funds from which the operation and maintenance costs are proposed to be funded;
     (q) Such other information bearing upon capital projects as the governor deems to be useful;
     (r) Standard terms, including a standard and uniform definition of normal maintenance, for all capital projects;
     (s) Such other information as the legislature may direct by law or concurrent resolution.
     For purposes of this subsection (5), the term "capital project" shall be defined subsequent to the analysis, findings, and recommendations of a joint committee comprised of representatives from the house capital appropriations committee, senate ways and means committee, legislative evaluation and accountability program committee, and office of financial management.
     (6) No change affecting the comparability of agency or program information relating to expenditures, revenues, workload, performance and personnel shall be made in the format of any budget document or report presented to the legislature under this section or RCW 43.88.160(1) relative to the format of the budget document or report which was presented to the previous regular session of the legislature during an odd-numbered year without prior legislative concurrence. Prior legislative concurrence shall consist of (a) a favorable majority vote on the proposal by the standing committees on ways and means of both houses if the legislature is in session or (b) a favorable majority vote on the proposal by members of the legislative evaluation and accountability program committee if the legislature is not in session.

Sec. 7   RCW 43.88.120 and 2000 2nd sp.s. c 4 s 13 are each amended to read as follows:
     Each agency engaged in the collection of revenues shall prepare estimated revenues and estimated receipts for the current and ensuing biennium and shall submit the estimates to the director of financial management and the director of revenue at times and in the form specified by the directors, along with any other information which the directors may request. For those agencies required to develop six-year programs and financial plans ((under RCW 44.40.070)), six-year revenue estimates shall be submitted to the director of financial management and the transportation committees of the senate and the house of representatives unless the responsibility for reporting these revenue estimates is assumed elsewhere.
     A copy of such revenue estimates shall be simultaneously submitted to the economic and revenue forecast work group when required by the office of the economic and revenue forecast council.

Sec. 8   RCW 74.09.470 and 2009 c 463 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Consistent with the goals established in RCW 74.09.402, through the apple health for kids program authorized in this section, the department shall provide affordable health care coverage to children under the age of nineteen who reside in Washington state and whose family income at the time of enrollment is not greater than two hundred fifty percent of the federal poverty level as adjusted for family size and determined annually by the federal department of health and human services, and effective January 1, 2009, and only to the extent that funds are specifically appropriated therefor, to children whose family income is not greater than three hundred percent of the federal poverty level. In administering the program, the department shall take such actions as may be necessary to ensure the receipt of federal financial participation under the medical assistance program, as codified at Title XIX of the federal social security act, the state children's health insurance program, as codified at Title XXI of the federal social security act, and any other federal funding sources that are now available or may become available in the future. The department and the ((caseload)) economic and revenue forecast council shall estimate the anticipated caseload and costs of the program established in this section.
     (2) The department shall accept applications for enrollment for children's health care coverage; establish appropriate minimum-enrollment periods, as may be necessary; and determine eligibility based on current family income. The department shall make eligibility determinations within the time frames for establishing eligibility for children on medical assistance, as defined by RCW 74.09.510. The application and annual renewal processes shall be designed to minimize administrative barriers for applicants and enrolled clients, and to minimize gaps in eligibility for families who are eligible for coverage. If a change in family income results in a change in the source of funding for coverage, the department shall transfer the family members to the appropriate source of funding and notify the family with respect to any change in premium obligation, without a break in eligibility. The department shall use the same eligibility redetermination and appeals procedures as those provided for children on medical assistance programs. The department shall modify its eligibility renewal procedures to lower the percentage of children failing to annually renew. The department shall manage its outreach, application, and renewal procedures with the goals of: (a) Achieving year by year improvements in enrollment, enrollment rates, renewals, and renewal rates; (b) maximizing the use of existing program databases to obtain information related to earned and unearned income for purposes of eligibility determination and renewals, including, but not limited to, the basic food program, the child care subsidy program, federal social security administration programs, and the employment security department wage database; (c) streamlining renewal processes to rely primarily upon data matches, online submissions, and telephone interviews; and (d) implementing any other eligibility determination and renewal processes to allow the state to receive an enhanced federal matching rate and additional federal outreach funding available through the federal children's health insurance program reauthorization act of 2009 by January 2010. The department shall advise the governor and the legislature regarding the status of these efforts by September 30, 2009. The information provided should include the status of the department's efforts, the anticipated impact of those efforts on enrollment, and the costs associated with that enrollment.
     (3) To ensure continuity of care and ease of understanding for families and health care providers, and to maximize the efficiency of the program, the amount, scope, and duration of health care services provided to children under this section shall be the same as that provided to children under medical assistance, as defined in RCW 74.09.520.
     (4) The primary mechanism for purchasing health care coverage under this section shall be through contracts with managed health care systems as defined in RCW 74.09.522, subject to conditions, limitations, and appropriations provided in the biennial appropriations act. However, the department shall make every effort within available resources to purchase health care coverage for uninsured children whose families have access to dependent coverage through an employer-sponsored health plan or another source when it is cost-effective for the state to do so, and the purchase is consistent with requirements of Title XIX and Title XXI of the federal social security act. To the extent allowable under federal law, the department shall require families to enroll in available employer-sponsored coverage, as a condition of participating in the program established under this section, when it is cost-effective for the state to do so. Families who enroll in available employer-sponsored coverage under this section shall be accounted for separately in the annual report required by RCW 74.09.053.
     (5)(a) To reflect appropriate parental responsibility, the department shall develop and implement a schedule of premiums for children's health care coverage due to the department from families with income greater than two hundred percent of the federal poverty level. For families with income greater than two hundred fifty percent of the federal poverty level, the premiums shall be established in consultation with the senate majority and minority leaders and the speaker and minority leader of the house of representatives. Premiums shall be set at a reasonable level that does not pose a barrier to enrollment. The amount of the premium shall be based upon family income and shall not exceed the premium limitations in Title XXI of the federal social security act. Premiums shall not be imposed on children in households at or below two hundred percent of the federal poverty level as articulated in RCW 74.09.055.
     (b) Beginning no later than January 1, 2010, the department shall offer families whose income is greater than three hundred percent of the federal poverty level the opportunity to purchase health care coverage for their children through the programs administered under this section without an explicit premium subsidy from the state. The design of the health benefit package offered to these children should provide a benefit package substantially similar to that offered in the apple health for kids program, and may differ with respect to cost-sharing, and other appropriate elements from that provided to children under subsection (3) of this section including, but not limited to, application of preexisting conditions, waiting periods, and other design changes needed to offer affordable coverage. The amount paid by the family shall be in an amount equal to the rate paid by the state to the managed health care system for coverage of the child, including any associated and administrative costs to the state of providing coverage for the child. Any pooling of the program enrollees that results in state fiscal impact must be identified and brought to the legislature for consideration.
     (6) The department shall undertake and continue a proactive, targeted outreach and education effort with the goal of enrolling children in health coverage and improving the health literacy of youth and parents. The department shall collaborate with the department of health, local public health jurisdictions, the office of the superintendent of public instruction, the department of early learning, health educators, health care providers, health carriers, community-based organizations, and parents in the design and development of this effort. The outreach and education effort shall include the following components:
     (a) Broad dissemination of information about the availability of coverage, including media campaigns;
     (b) Assistance with completing applications, and community-based outreach efforts to help people apply for coverage. Community-based outreach efforts should be targeted to the populations least likely to be covered;
     (c) Use of existing systems, such as enrollment information from the free and reduced-price lunch program, the department of early learning child care subsidy program, the department of health's women, infants, and children program, and the early childhood education and assistance program, to identify children who may be eligible but not enrolled in coverage;
     (d) Contracting with community-based organizations and government entities to support community-based outreach efforts to help families apply for coverage. These efforts should be targeted to the populations least likely to be covered. The department shall provide informational materials for use by government entities and community-based organizations in their outreach activities, and should identify any available federal matching funds to support these efforts;
     (e) Development and dissemination of materials to engage and inform parents and families statewide on issues such as: The benefits of health insurance coverage; the appropriate use of health services, including primary care provided by health care practitioners licensed under chapters 18.71, 18.57, 18.36A, and 18.79 RCW, and emergency services; the value of a medical home, well-child services and immunization, and other preventive health services with linkages to department of health child profile efforts; identifying and managing chronic conditions such as asthma and diabetes; and the value of good nutrition and physical activity;
     (f) An evaluation of the outreach and education efforts, based upon clear, cost-effective outcome measures that are included in contracts with entities that undertake components of the outreach and education effort;
     (g) An implementation plan to develop online application capability that is integrated with the department's automated client eligibility system, and to develop data linkages with the office of the superintendent of public instruction for free and reduced-price lunch enrollment information and the department of early learning for child care subsidy program enrollment information.
     (7) The department shall take action to increase the number of primary care physicians providing dental disease preventive services including oral health screenings, risk assessment, family education, the application of fluoride varnish, and referral to a dentist as needed.
     (8) The department shall monitor the rates of substitution between private-sector health care coverage and the coverage provided under this section and shall report to appropriate committees of the legislature by December 2010.

Sec. 9   RCW 82.33.010 and 1990 c 229 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The economic and revenue forecast council is hereby created. The council shall consist of ((two)) three individuals appointed by the governor and four individuals, one of whom is appointed by the chairperson of each of the two largest political caucuses in the senate and house of representatives. The chair of the council shall be selected from among the four caucus appointees. The council may select such other officers as the members deem necessary.
     (2) The council shall employ an economic and revenue forecast supervisor to supervise the preparation of all ((economic and revenue)) forecasts. As used in this chapter, "supervisor" means the economic and revenue forecast supervisor. Approval by an affirmative vote of at least ((five)) six members of the council is required for any decisions regarding employment of the supervisor. Employment of the supervisor shall terminate after each term of three years. At the end of the first year of each three-year term the council shall consider extension of the supervisor's term by one year. The council ((may)) shall fix the compensation of the supervisor, subject to approval by the legislature in the omnibus appropriations act. The supervisor shall employ staff sufficient to accomplish the purposes of this section.
     (3) The ((economic and revenue)) forecast council shall oversee the preparation of and approve, by an affirmative vote of at least ((four)) five members, the official, optimistic, and pessimistic state economic and revenue forecasts and caseload forecasts prepared under RCW 82.33.020. If the council is unable to approve a forecast before a date required in RCW 82.33.020, the supervisor shall submit the forecast without approval and the forecast shall have the same effect as if approved by the council.
     (4) A councilmember who does not cast an affirmative vote for approval of the official economic and revenue forecast may request, and the supervisor shall provide, an alternative economic and revenue forecast based on assumptions specified by the member.
     (5) Members of the economic and revenue forecast council shall serve without additional compensation but shall be reimbursed for travel expenses in accordance with RCW 44.04.120 while attending sessions of the council or on official business authorized by the council. Nonlegislative members of the council shall be reimbursed for travel expenses in accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.
     (6) "Caseload," as used in this chapter, means the number of persons expected to meet entitlement requirements and require the services of public assistance programs, state correctional institutions, state correctional noninstitutional supervision, state institutions for juvenile offenders, the common school system, long-term care, medical assistance, foster care, and adoption support.
     (7) Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions provided in RCW 43.88.020 apply to this chapter.

Sec. 10   RCW 82.33.020 and 2005 c 319 s 137 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Four times each year the supervisor shall prepare, subject to the approval of the economic and revenue forecast council under RCW 82.33.010:
     (a) An official state economic and revenue forecast;
     (b) An unofficial state economic and revenue forecast based on optimistic economic and revenue projections; and
     (c) An unofficial state economic and revenue forecast based on pessimistic economic and revenue projections.
     (2) In consultation with the caseload forecast work group established under section 11 of this act, and subject to the approval of the forecast council, the supervisor shall prepare:
     (a) An official state caseload forecast; and
     (b) Other caseload forecasts based on alternative assumptions as the council may determine.
     (3) The supervisor shall submit forecasts prepared under this section, along with any unofficial forecasts provided under RCW 82.33.010, to the governor and the members of the committees on ways and means and the chairs of the committees on transportation of the senate and house of representatives, including one copy to the staff of each of the committees((,)). Revenue and economic forecasts shall be submitted on or before November 20th, February 20th in the even-numbered years, March 20th in the odd-numbered years, June 20th, and September 20th. All revenue and economic forecasts shall include both estimated receipts and estimated revenues in conformance with generally accepted accounting principles as provided by RCW 43.88.037. The supervisor shall submit caseload forecasts prepared under this section, along with any unofficial forecasts as provided for under RCW 82.33.010, to the governor and the members of the legislative fiscal committees, including one copy to the staff of each of the committees. The forecasts shall be submitted at least three times each year and on such dates as the council determines will facilitate the development of budget proposals by the governor and the legislature.
     (((3))) (4) All agencies of state government shall provide to the supervisor immediate access to all information relating to ((economic and revenue)) forecasts. Revenue collection information shall be available to the supervisor the first business day following the conclusion of each collection period.
     (((4))) (5) The ((economic and revenue forecast)) supervisor and staff shall ((co-locate and)) share information, data, and files with the tax research section of the department of revenue but shall not duplicate the duties and functions of one another.
     (((5))) (6) As part of its forecasts under subsection (1) of this section, the supervisor shall provide estimated revenue from tuition fees as defined in RCW 28B.15.020.
     (7) The administrator of the legislative evaluation and accountability program committee may request, and the supervisor shall provide, alternative caseload forecasts based on assumptions specified by the administrator.
     (8) The official state caseload forecast under this section shall be the basis of the governor's budget document as provided in RCW 43.88.030 and utilized by the legislature in the development of the omnibus biennial appropriations act.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 11   A new section is added to chapter 82.33 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) To promote the free flow of information and to promote legislative and executive input in the development of assumptions and preparation of forecasts, immediate access to all information and statistical models relating to caseload forecasts shall be available to the caseload forecast work group, hereby created. Each state agency affected by caseloads shall submit caseload reports and data to the council as soon as the reports and data are available and shall provide to the council and the supervisor such additional raw, program-level data or information as may be necessary for discharge of their respective duties.
     (2) The caseload forecast work group shall consist of one staff member selected by the executive head or chairperson of each of the following agencies, programs, or committees:
     (a) Office of financial management;
     (b) Ways and means committee, or its successor, of the senate;
     (c) Ways and means committee, or its successor, of the house of representatives;
     (d) Legislative evaluation and accountability program committee; and
     (e) Each state program for which the council forecasts the caseload.
     (3) The caseload forecast work group shall provide technical support to the forecast council. Meetings of the caseload forecast work group may be called by any member of the group for the purpose of assisting the council, reviewing forecasts, or for any other purpose that may assist the council.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 12   A new section is added to chapter 82.33 RCW to read as follows:
     The economic and revenue forecast council shall also conduct analysis of sentencing practices and their impact on correctional caseloads. To that end, the forecast council shall:
     (1)(a) Serve as a clearinghouse and information center for the collection, preparation, analysis, and dissemination of information on state and local adult and juvenile sentencing practices; (b) develop and maintain a computerized adult and juvenile sentencing information system by individual superior court judge consisting of offender, offense, history, and sentence information entered from judgment and sentence forms for all adult felons; and (c) conduct ongoing research regarding adult and juvenile sentencing guidelines, use of total confinement and alternatives to total confinement, plea bargaining, and other matters relating to the improvement of the adult criminal justice system and the juvenile justice system;
     (2) Not later than December 1, 2011, and at least every two years thereafter, based on available information, report to the governor and the legislature on:
     (a) Racial disproportionality in juvenile and adult sentencing and, if available, the impact that diversions, such as youth courts, have on racial disproportionality in juvenile prosecution, adjudication, and sentencing;
     (b) The capacity of state and local juvenile and adult facilities and resources; and
     (c) Recidivism information on adult and juvenile offenders.

Sec. 13   RCW 74.09.470 and 2009 c 463 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Consistent with the goals established in RCW 74.09.402, through the apple health for kids program authorized in this section, the department shall provide affordable health care coverage to children under the age of nineteen who reside in Washington state and whose family income at the time of enrollment is not greater than two hundred fifty percent of the federal poverty level as adjusted for family size and determined annually by the federal department of health and human services, and effective January 1, 2009, and only to the extent that funds are specifically appropriated therefor, to children whose family income is not greater than three hundred percent of the federal poverty level. In administering the program, the department shall take such actions as may be necessary to ensure the receipt of federal financial participation under the medical assistance program, as codified at Title XIX of the federal social security act, the state children's health insurance program, as codified at Title XXI of the federal social security act, and any other federal funding sources that are now available or may become available in the future. The department and the ((caseload)) economic and revenue forecast council shall estimate the anticipated caseload and costs of the program established in this section.
     (2) The department shall accept applications for enrollment for children's health care coverage; establish appropriate minimum-enrollment periods, as may be necessary; and determine eligibility based on current family income. The department shall make eligibility determinations within the time frames for establishing eligibility for children on medical assistance, as defined by RCW 74.09.510. The application and annual renewal processes shall be designed to minimize administrative barriers for applicants and enrolled clients, and to minimize gaps in eligibility for families who are eligible for coverage. If a change in family income results in a change in the source of funding for coverage, the department shall transfer the family members to the appropriate source of funding and notify the family with respect to any change in premium obligation, without a break in eligibility. The department shall use the same eligibility redetermination and appeals procedures as those provided for children on medical assistance programs. The department shall modify its eligibility renewal procedures to lower the percentage of children failing to annually renew. The department shall manage its outreach, application, and renewal procedures with the goals of: (a) Achieving year by year improvements in enrollment, enrollment rates, renewals, and renewal rates; (b) maximizing the use of existing program databases to obtain information related to earned and unearned income for purposes of eligibility determination and renewals, including, but not limited to, the basic food program, the child care subsidy program, federal social security administration programs, and the employment security department wage database; (c) streamlining renewal processes to rely primarily upon data matches, online submissions, and telephone interviews; and (d) implementing any other eligibility determination and renewal processes to allow the state to receive an enhanced federal matching rate and additional federal outreach funding available through the federal children's health insurance program reauthorization act of 2009 by January 2010. The department shall advise the governor and the legislature regarding the status of these efforts by September 30, 2009. The information provided should include the status of the department's efforts, the anticipated impact of those efforts on enrollment, and the costs associated with that enrollment.
     (3) To ensure continuity of care and ease of understanding for families and health care providers, and to maximize the efficiency of the program, the amount, scope, and duration of health care services provided to children under this section shall be the same as that provided to children under medical assistance, as defined in RCW 74.09.520.
     (4) The primary mechanism for purchasing health care coverage under this section shall be through contracts with managed health care systems as defined in RCW 74.09.522, subject to conditions, limitations, and appropriations provided in the biennial appropriations act. However, the department shall make every effort within available resources to purchase health care coverage for uninsured children whose families have access to dependent coverage through an employer-sponsored health plan or another source when it is cost-effective for the state to do so, and the purchase is consistent with requirements of Title XIX and Title XXI of the federal social security act. To the extent allowable under federal law, the department shall require families to enroll in available employer-sponsored coverage, as a condition of participating in the program established under this section, when it is cost-effective for the state to do so. Families who enroll in available employer-sponsored coverage under this section shall be accounted for separately in the annual report required by RCW 74.09.053.
     (5)(a) To reflect appropriate parental responsibility, the department shall develop and implement a schedule of premiums for children's health care coverage due to the department from families with income greater than two hundred percent of the federal poverty level. For families with income greater than two hundred fifty percent of the federal poverty level, the premiums shall be established in consultation with the senate majority and minority leaders and the speaker and minority leader of the house of representatives. Premiums shall be set at a reasonable level that does not pose a barrier to enrollment. The amount of the premium shall be based upon family income and shall not exceed the premium limitations in Title XXI of the federal social security act. Premiums shall not be imposed on children in households at or below two hundred percent of the federal poverty level as articulated in RCW 74.09.055.
     (b) Beginning no later than January 1, 2010, the department shall offer families whose income is greater than three hundred percent of the federal poverty level the opportunity to purchase health care coverage for their children through the programs administered under this section without an explicit premium subsidy from the state. The design of the health benefit package offered to these children should provide a benefit package substantially similar to that offered in the apple health for kids program, and may differ with respect to cost-sharing, and other appropriate elements from that provided to children under subsection (3) of this section including, but not limited to, application of preexisting conditions, waiting periods, and other design changes needed to offer affordable coverage. The amount paid by the family shall be in an amount equal to the rate paid by the state to the managed health care system for coverage of the child, including any associated and administrative costs to the state of providing coverage for the child. Any pooling of the program enrollees that results in state fiscal impact must be identified and brought to the legislature for consideration.
     (6) The department shall undertake and continue a proactive, targeted outreach and education effort with the goal of enrolling children in health coverage and improving the health literacy of youth and parents. The department shall collaborate with the department of health, local public health jurisdictions, the office of the superintendent of public instruction, the department of early learning, health educators, health care providers, health carriers, community-based organizations, and parents in the design and development of this effort. The outreach and education effort shall include the following components:
     (a) Broad dissemination of information about the availability of coverage, including media campaigns;
     (b) Assistance with completing applications, and community-based outreach efforts to help people apply for coverage. Community-based outreach efforts should be targeted to the populations least likely to be covered;
     (c) Use of existing systems, such as enrollment information from the free and reduced-price lunch program, the department of early learning child care subsidy program, the department of health's women, infants, and children program, and the early childhood education and assistance program, to identify children who may be eligible but not enrolled in coverage;
     (d) Contracting with community-based organizations and government entities to support community-based outreach efforts to help families apply for coverage. These efforts should be targeted to the populations least likely to be covered. The department shall provide informational materials for use by government entities and community-based organizations in their outreach activities, and should identify any available federal matching funds to support these efforts;
     (e) Development and dissemination of materials to engage and inform parents and families statewide on issues such as: The benefits of health insurance coverage; the appropriate use of health services, including primary care provided by health care practitioners licensed under chapters 18.71, 18.57, 18.36A, and 18.79 RCW, and emergency services; the value of a medical home, well-child services and immunization, and other preventive health services with linkages to department of health child profile efforts; identifying and managing chronic conditions such as asthma and diabetes; and the value of good nutrition and physical activity;
     (f) An evaluation of the outreach and education efforts, based upon clear, cost-effective outcome measures that are included in contracts with entities that undertake components of the outreach and education effort;
     (g) An implementation plan to develop online application capability that is integrated with the department's automated client eligibility system, and to develop data linkages with the office of the superintendent of public instruction for free and reduced-price lunch enrollment information and the department of early learning for child care subsidy program enrollment information.
     (7) The department shall take action to increase the number of primary care physicians providing dental disease preventive services including oral health screenings, risk assessment, family education, the application of fluoride varnish, and referral to a dentist as needed.
     (8) The department shall monitor the rates of substitution between private-sector health care coverage and the coverage provided under this section and shall report to appropriate committees of the legislature by December 2010.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 14   The following acts or parts of acts are each repealed:
     (1) RCW 9.94A.855 (Sentencing guidelines commission -- Research staff -- Data, information, assistance -- Bylaws -- Salary of executive officer) and 2005 c 282 s 20, 1999 c 143 s 10, 1982 c 192 s 3, & 1981 c 137 s 5;
     (2) RCW 9.94A.863 (Monetary threshold amounts of property crimes--Review -- Report) and 2009 c 431 s 2;
     (3) RCW 43.88C.010 (Caseload forecast council -- Caseload forecast supervisor -- Oversight and approval of official caseload forecast--Alternative forecast -- Travel reimbursement -- Definitions) and 2000 c 90 s 1 & 1997 c 168 s 1;
     (4) RCW 43.88C.020 (Preparation and submittal of caseload forecasts--Cooperation of state agencies--Official state caseload forecast) and 1997 c 168 s 2; and
     (5) RCW 43.88C.030 (Caseload forecast work group -- Submittal of data by state agencies -- Meetings) and 1997 c 168 s 3.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 15   If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 16   This act takes effect July 1, 2010.