FINAL BILL REPORT

SB 5229

                                   C 49 L 88

BYSenators Kreidler, Deccio, Sellar, Kiskaddon and Stratton; by request of Department of Social and Health Services

Revising the membership and duties of the state advisory committee to the department of social and health services.

Senate Committee on Children & Family Services

House Committe on Human Services

SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

BACKGROUND:

The State Advisory Committee (SAC) to the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) was established in 1971.  Its responsibilities are to advise the secretary regarding all matters pertaining to the department and to make recommendations regarding any changes deemed advisable.

The 1985 Legislature added biennial reviews of nonstatutory departmental and program specific advisory committees to the SAC's responsibilities.  These reviews are to monitor each committee's goals and achievements within allotted time frames.  The department has reported that since federal and state mandated committees are exempt from this review process only four of the agency's 41 committees are reviewed by the SAC, thus limiting the potential of the reviews.

The committee's 15 person membership includes one person from each of the six DSHS regional advisory committees.  Terms are for four years.

SUMMARY:

The membership of the Department of Social and Health Services' State Advisory Committee (SAC) is changed from 15 to 20 members whose terms are shortened from four to three years.  An unexpired term is considered a full term when half or more of the term is served.

The requirement that the committee include one member from each Regional Advisory Committee is deleted.  Instead the SAC is required to encourage regional advisory committees to send a representative to meetings to foster communications between the regional and state advisory committees.

The SAC is required to review each of the 41 departmental advisory committees to determine if elimination or consolidation of these committees should occur.  A report on this review is to be made to the appropriate legislative committees by January 1, 1989.

The SAC is directed to encourage public awareness and understanding of the department's programs and services.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      Senate    45     0

      House 98   0 (House amended)

      Senate    42     0 (Senate concurred)

EFFECTIVE:June 9, 1988