BILL REQ. #:  S-3526.4 

Read first time 02/27/12.   Referred to Committee on Human Services & Corrections.

     AN ACT Relating to juvenile court quality assurance services; amending RCW 13.40.510, 13.40.520, 13.40.530, and 13.40.540; and creating new sections.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   To maximize the benefits to the public, state government should be operated in an efficient and effective manner. The purpose of this act is to transfer quality assurance activities and responsibilities for programs funded under RCW 13.40.500 et seq. from the department of social and health services juvenile rehabilitation administration to the administrative office of the courts. The administrative office of the courts operates the Washington state center for court research which has the experience and expertise to align quality assurance activities and program outcome measurements. This move will allow for the efficient and cost-effective management of quality assurance activities and program outcome measurements at the state level. This move will also promote individual program level improvements in juvenile courts, allowing juvenile courts to more closely match individual offenders, programs, and counselors for the most effective outcomes for individual juvenile offenders.

Sec. 2   RCW 13.40.510 and 2010 1st sp.s. c 7 s 62 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) In order to receive funds under RCW 13.40.500 through 13.40.540, local governments may, through their respective agencies that administer funding for consolidated juvenile services, submit proposals that establish community juvenile accountability programs within their communities. These proposals must be submitted to the juvenile rehabilitation administration of the department of social and health services and the administrative office of the courts for certification.
     (2) The proposals must:
     (a) Demonstrate that the proposals were developed with the input of the local law and justice councils established under RCW 72.09.300;
     (b) Describe how local community groups or members are involved in the implementation of the programs funded under RCW 13.40.500 through 13.40.540;
     (c) Include a description of how the grant funds will contribute to the expected outcomes of the program and the reduction of youth violence and juvenile crime in their community. Data approaches are not required to be replicated if the networks have information that addresses risks in the community for juvenile offenders.
     (3) A local government receiving a grant under this section shall agree that any funds received must be used efficiently to encourage the use of community-based programs that reduce the reliance on secure confinement as the sole means of holding juvenile offenders accountable for their crimes. The local government shall also agree to account for the expenditure of all funds received under the grant and to submit to audits for compliance with the grant criteria developed under RCW 13.40.520.
     (4) The juvenile rehabilitation administration((, in consultation with)) and the administrative office of the courts, in consultation with the Washington association of juvenile court administrators ((and the state law and justice advisory council)), shall establish guidelines for programs that may be funded under RCW 13.40.500 through 13.40.540. The guidelines must:
     (a) Target diverted and adjudicated juvenile offenders;
     (b) Include assessment methods to determine services, programs, and intervention strategies most likely to change behaviors and norms of juvenile offenders;
     (c) Provide maximum structured supervision in the community. Programs should use natural surveillance and community guardians such as employers, relatives, teachers, clergy, and community mentors to the greatest extent possible;
     (d) Promote good work ethic values and educational skills and competencies necessary for the juvenile offender to function effectively and positively in the community;
     (e) Maximize the efficient delivery of treatment services aimed at reducing risk factors associated with the commission of juvenile offenses;
     (f) Maximize the reintegration of the juvenile offender into the community upon release from confinement;
     (g) Maximize the juvenile offender's opportunities to make full restitution to the victims and amends to the community;
     (h) Support and encourage increased court discretion in imposing community-based intervention strategies;
     (i) Be compatible with research that shows which prevention and early intervention strategies work with juvenile offenders;
     (j) Be outcome-based in that it describes what outcomes will be achieved or what outcomes have already been achieved;
     (k) Include an evaluation component; and
     (l) Recognize the diversity of local needs.
     (((5) The state law and justice advisory council may provide support and technical assistance to local governments for training and education regarding community-based prevention and intervention strategies.))

Sec. 3   RCW 13.40.520 and 1997 c 338 s 62 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The state may make grants to local governments for the provision of community-based programs for juvenile offenders. The grants must be made under a grant formula developed by the juvenile rehabilitation administration and the administrative office of the courts, in consultation with the Washington association of juvenile court administrators.
     (2) Upon certification by the juvenile rehabilitation administration and the administrative office of the courts that a proposal satisfies the application and selection criteria, grant funds will be distributed to the local government agency that administers funding for consolidated juvenile services.

Sec. 4   RCW 13.40.530 and 1997 c 338 s 63 are each amended to read as follows:
     The legislature recognizes the importance of evaluation and outcome measurements of programs serving juvenile offenders in order to ensure cost-effective use of public funds.
     (1) The Washington state institute for public policy shall develop standards for measuring the effectiveness of juvenile accountability programs established and approved under RCW 13.40.510. The standards must be developed and presented to the governor and legislature not later than January 1, 1998. The standards must include methods for measuring success factors following intervention. Success factors include, but are not limited to, continued use of alcohol or controlled substances, arrests, violations of terms of community supervision, convictions for subsequent offenses, and restitution to victims.
     (2) The administrative office of the courts, in consultation with the Washington association of juvenile court administrators, shall establish a state quality assurance program, and shall monitor the implementation of programs that may be funded under RCW 13.40.500 through 13.40.540 and evaluate adherence to program model design and program model outcomes based on approved guidelines set forth under RCW 13.40.510.

Sec. 5   RCW 13.40.540 and 1997 c 338 s 64 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Each community juvenile accountability program approved and funded under RCW 13.40.500 through 13.40.540 shall comply with the information collection requirements in subsection (2) of this section and the reporting requirements in subsection (3) of this section.
     (2) The information collected by each community juvenile accountability program must include, at a minimum for each juvenile participant: (a) The name, date of birth, gender, social security number, and, when available, the juvenile information system (JUVIS) control number; (b) an initial intake assessment of each juvenile participating in the program; (c) a list of all juveniles who completed the program; and (d) an assessment upon completion or termination of each juvenile, including outcomes and, where applicable, reasons for termination.
     (3) The ((juvenile rehabilitation administration)) administrative office of the courts shall annually compile the data and report to the legislature on: (a) The programs funded under RCW 13.40.500 through 13.40.540; (b) the total cost for each funded program and cost per juvenile; ((and)) (c) the essential elements of the program; (d) program outcomes; and (e) recommendations regarding program development.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6   If specific funding for the purposes of this act, referencing this act by bill or chapter number, is not provided by June 30, 2012, in the omnibus appropriations act, this act is null and void.