SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6382

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.

As Reported by Senate Committee On:

Human Services, Mental Health & Housing, February 4, 2016

Title: An act relating to the extension of dates concerning measuring performance and performance-based contracting of the child welfare system.

Brief Description: Extending dates concerning measuring performance and performance-based contracting of the child welfare system.

Sponsors: Senators O'Ban, Darneille and Miloscia; by request of Department of Social and Health Services.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Human Services, Mental Health & Housing: 2/02/16, 2/04/16 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES, MENTAL HEALTH & HOUSING

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6382 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

Signed by Senators O'Ban, Chair; Miloscia, Vice Chair; Darneille, Ranking Minority Member; Hargrove and Padden.

Staff: Kevin Black (786-7747)

Background: Second Substitute House Bill 2106, passed in 2009, required the Department of Health Services (DSHS) to take a number of actions intended to improve the child welfare system, including the consolidation of contracts and the conversion to performance-based contracting within the child welfare system. This legislation established a Child Welfare Transformation Design Committee (CWTDC), which was charged with creating a transition plan to move to performance-based contracting of child welfare services.

One task given to the CWTDC was to select two demonstration sites, one each on the Eastern and Western sides of the state, in which to provide child welfare services by contract from supervising agencies with whom DSHS has entered into performance-based contracts. DSHS would be restricted as to what services it could directly provide within these demonstration site areas. The Washington State Institute for Public Policy (WSIPP) was instructed to evaluate the operation of the child welfare system within the demonstration sites to determine whether the measurable results achieved in the demonstration sites are different from the results achieved in areas of the state where child welfare services are offered by state workers.

The demonstration sites were originally designated to begin on July 1, 2012, with the WSIPP evaluation of their performance due on April 1, 2015. The commencement date for the demonstration sites has changed in law three times since 2009 to the current date of December 30, 2016. The current due date for the WSIPP demonstration site evaluation is April 1, 2018.

The activities of the CWTDC were suspended in law from July 28, 2013 to December 1, 2015. The statute authorizing the CWTDC expires in law on July 1, 2016.

Summary of Bill (Recommended Substitute): The date by which DSHS must provide child welfare services by supervising agencies with whom DSHS has entered into performance-based contracts within demonstration sites selected by the CWTDC is extended three years from December 30, 2016 to December 30, 2019.

The evaluation date from WSIPP for the demonstration sites is extended from June 30, 2016, to April 1, 2023. The date by which the Governor must, based on this report, determine whether to expand the demonstration sites is extended from June 1, 2016, to June 1, 2023.

EFFECT OF CHANGES MADE BY HUMAN SERVICES, MENTAL HEALTH & HOUSING COMMITTEE (Recommended Substitute): The evaluation date from WSIPP for the demonstration sites is extended from June 30, 2016, to April 1, 2023. The date by which the Governor must, based on this report, determine whether to expand the demonstration sites is extended from June 1, 2016, to June 1, 2023.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: Circumstances have changed from what was anticipated in the 2009 legislation. The Children's Administration is transitioning into a form of performance-based contracting through network administrators. This work needs to be finished before the demonstration sites are started. The money that would fund these pilots should be invested in the workforce. We prefer eliminating the pilots, but support the delay.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Jennifer Strus, DSHS; Laurie Lippold, Partners for Our Children; Alia Griffing, WA Federation of State Employees.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.