SENATE BILL REPORT
HB 1539
BYRepresentatives Dorn, Leonard, Rasmussen, Grant, Brekke, Holm, Heavey, Fox, Vekich, Sprenkle, Basich, Ebersole, Winsley, Day, Padden, Ferguson, Fisher, Rayburn, P. King, Anderson, Rust, Todd, Silver and Lux
Requiring the development of a juvenile court training curriculum.
House Committe on Human Services
Senate Committee on Children & Family Services
Senate Hearing Date(s):February 24, 1988
Senate Staff:Jennifer Strus (786-7472)
AS OF FEBRUARY 23, 1988
BACKGROUND:
Various agencies recognize that appropriate training and adequate experience in juvenile and family law are essential to a just and effective dependency system. The Washington State Code Review Panel recommended to the Legislature that a curriculum for a general understanding of child development and treatment resources, as well as specific legal skills and knowledge of relevant statutes, cases, court rules, interviewing skills and special needs of the abused or neglected child should be developed and required for all participants. The development of this curriculum is critical particularly in light of the system used in most superior courts in which superior court judges, some with no experience or education in dependency matters, are rotated through juvenile court.
SUMMARY:
The Office of the Administrator for the Courts shall develop a curriculum which shall be available to all juvenile court judges, court personnel and service providers.
The general purpose of the curriculum is to develop an understanding of child development and treatment resources. The specific intent of the curriculum is to develop the specific legal and interviewing skills necessary for handling dependency cases as well as developing the knowledge of relevant statutes, cases and court rules. The curriculum is also designed to educate judges, court personnel and service providers on the special needs of the abused or neglected child.
The curriculum shall be available by July 1, 1988.
Appropriation: none
Revenue: yes
Fiscal Note: available