SENATE BILL REPORT

E2SHB 586

BYHouse Committee on Ways & Means/Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Scott, Lewis, Brekke, Winsley, Leonard, Brough, Betrozoff, R. King, Doty, P. King, Todd, Unsoeld and May)

Providing for comprehensive child protective services.

House Committe on Human Services

Rereferred House Committee on Ways & Means/Appropriations

Senate Committee on Human Services & Corrections

Senate Hearing Date(s):April 1, 1987

Majority Report:     Do pass as amended and refer to Committee on Ways & Means.

     Signed by Senators Wojahn, Chairman; Stratton, Vice Chairman; Anderson, Deccio, Johnson, Kiskaddon, Kreidler, Tanner.

Senate Staff:Jean Soliz (786-7755)

                April 2, 1987

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

Senate Hearing Date(s):April 6, 1987

Majority Report:     Do pass as amended by Committee on Human Services & Corrections.

     Signed by Senators McDermott, Chairman; Gaspard, Vice Chairman; Bauer, Bluechel, Cantu, Craswell, Deccio, Fleming, Hayner, Kreidler, Lee, McDonald, Moore, Owen, Rinehart, Saling, Talmadge, Vognild, Warnke, William, Wojahn, Zimmerman.

Senate Staff:Suzanne Petersen (786-7715)

                April 6, 1987

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS, APRIL 6, 1987

BACKGROUND:

An internal review of Child Protective Services (CPS) was completed by the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) in late 1985.  Numerous suggestions were included for improving the functioning of CPS.  After legislative hearings and numerous briefings, legislators concluded that certain specific services need to be strengthened and expanded.  These include such community resources as the multi-disciplinary teams, therapeutic day care, foster parent support services, visiting public health nurses, parenting education and counseling services.

SUMMARY:

Training standards for caseworkers are strengthened by requiring that training be completed before a caseworker can perform his/her tasks unsupervised.

Training is established for additional personnel involved in handling cases of child abuse and neglect including juvenile court judges, prosecutors, public defenders, administrative law judges, and law enforcement through the Office of Administrator for the Courts, Office of Administrative Hearings, and Criminal Justice Training Commission.

Community multi-disciplinary teams are mandated and defined. The Department of Social and Health Services shall provide information on and referral to available counseling services for victims of child abuse and neglect.

A risk assessment tool may be developed to use when investigating child abuse and neglect referrals.  A report on the use of the tool is required by December 1, 1988.  In addition, within appropriated funds, the Department will provide foster parent training and supportive services and therapeutic day care, hire 21 clerical support staff, utilize electronic support equipment, hire 45 public health nurses, establish a Title IV B and E eligibility determination program to ensure maximum utilization of federal funds, and hire 6 assistant attorneys general.

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED SENATE AMENDMENT:

The Department is required to hire homemakers as well as public health nurses and must limit risk assessment to three pilot programs.

The list of offenses which must be reported under the current crime witness statute is expanded to include any sexual offense or attempt to commit such an offense against an adult or child and any assault on a child that appears reasonably likely to cause substantial bodily harm to the child.  The duty to report such offenses does not affect privileged relationships established by law.

The duty to report created in this section is met if a person gives notice or attempts to give notice by telephone as soon as reasonably possible.  The failure to report offenses identified in this section is a gross misdemeanor.

An exemption from the reporting requirement is granted to any person who has a reasonable belief that making a report would place him or her or another family member in danger of immediate physical harm.

Fiscal Note:    available

Effective Date:The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect on July 1, 1987.

Senate Committee - Testified:   HUMAN SERVICES & CORRECTIONS: Representative June Leonard; Jerry Wasson, DSHS Division of Children and Family Services; Margie Kranz, Juvenile Code Education Project; Pat Gogerty, Childhaven, Lonnie Johns'Brown, National Organization of Women and Washington Alliance for Education of Young Children; Ruth Coffin, League of Women Voters

Senate Committee - Testified:   WAYS & MEANS: No one