SENATE BILL REPORT

ESB 5229

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

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 1, 1988

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

      Signed by Senators Kiskaddon, Chairman; Bailey, Vice Chairman; Fleming, Garrett, Stratton.

Senate Staff:Carol Pedigo (786-7417)

                  March 1, 1988

AS PASSED SENATE, FEBRUARY 8, 1988

BACKGROUND:

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

The committee is made up of 15 persons to include one person from each of the six DSHS regional advisory committees.  Terms are for four years.

In 1985 the 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 State Advisory Committee, thus limiting the potential of the reviews.

SUMMARY:

The membership of the DSHS State Advisory Committee is changed from 15 to 20 members and their 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 State Advisory Committee have one member from each Regional Advisory Committee is deleted.  Instead the State Advisory Committee is required to encourage each Regional Advisory Committee to send a nonvoting representative to State Advisory Committee meetings to foster communications between the Regional and State Advisory Committees.

Language requiring the State Advisory Committee to review departmental advisory committees is stricken.

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

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      available

Senate Committee - Testified: Jule Sugarman, Secretary, DSHS

HOUSE AMENDMENT:

The DSHS State Advisory Committee shall review each of the 41 departmental advisory committees to determine where elimination or consolidation should occur.  A report on this review is to be made to the appropriate legislative committees by January 1, 1989.