FINAL BILL REPORT

SSB 6308

                                  C 234 L 88

BYSenate Committee on Children & Family Services (originally sponsored by Senators Bailey and Kiskaddon)

Requiring the development of a juvenile court training curriculum.

Senate Committee on Children & Family Services

House Committe on Human Services

SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

BACKGROUND:

The Washington State Code Review Panel recognizes that appropriate training and adequate experience in juvenile and family law are essential to a just and effective dependency system.  The 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 Legislature recognizes that a need exists to have judges, attorneys, court personnel and service providers properly trained to handle cases in the dependency and at risk youth systems.  The Office of the Administrator for the Courts shall develop a curriculum which shall be available to all juvenile court judges, attorneys, court personnel and service providers.  The curriculum shall specifically include materials on RCW 13.32A and RCW 13.34.

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 legal and interviewing skills necessary for handling dependency cases as well as developing the knowledge of relevant statutes, cases and court rules.  The curriculum also is designed to educate judges, attorneys, court personnel and service providers on the special needs of the abused or neglected child.

The curriculum shall be available by July 1, 1988.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      Senate    44     0

      House 94   1 (House amended)

      Senate    43     0 (Senate concurred)

EFFECTIVE:June 9, 1988