AN ACT Relating to the organization of social and health services functions in state government; creating new sections; and providing an expiration date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) It is the goal of the legislature to maintain and improve social and health services, restore the confidence of the public in the expenditure of its tax dollars, and ensure that state agencies deliver quality services to their clientele in an efficient, effective, and economical manner. That goal can best be achieved if agencies delivering those services are organized and managed to meet the following standards: (a) To have clear lines of authority that avoid functional duplication both within and between agencies; (b) to eliminate categorical and functional barriers that impede the effective delivery of services and agency responsiveness to community and client needs; (c) to establish effective means of communication, integration, and coordination between and within agencies and programs delivering social and health services; (d) to be flexible, adaptable, and foster organizational revitalization and program innovation; (e) to establish means by which agency employees and clients are empowered so that they can effectively participate in solving service delivery problems; (f) to have a structural simplicity that makes agencies both accessible to, and understandable by, the general public and the agencies' clientele; (g) to have a reasonable span of management control; and (h) to have clear goals and missions for the delivery of social and health services so that agencies can be held accountable to the legislature, the executive, and the general public for the outcome of programs.

(2) To achieve such organizational standards, this act establishes a temporary commission of experts in public policy and administration to study and make recommendations to the governor and the legislature on the organization and structure of state agencies responsible for providing social and health services.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. (1) There is created a temporary commission to be known as the commission on organization of social and health services, hereafter referred to as the commission.

(2) The commission shall consist of sixteen members as follows:

(a) Two legislators from each of the four caucuses of the legislature to be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the senate; and

(b) Eight individuals with knowledge and expertise in public policy and administration to be appointed by the governor.

(3) The governor shall appoint the chair from among the membership of the commission. Vacancies on the commission shall be filled in the same manner as original appointments.

(4) Nonlegislative members shall be reimbursed for travel expenses for attending meetings of the commission as provided for in RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060. Legislative members shall be reimbursed for travel expenses for attending meetings of the commission as provided for in RCW 44.04.120.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. The commission shall:

(1) Examine and make recommendations regarding the organization and structure of state agencies and programs providing social and health services in accordance with the standards prescribed in section 1 of this act;

(2) Examine and make recommendations regarding the structure and process for achieving cross-agency planning, evaluation of program needs, determination of basic human service goals, and the evaluation of program outcomes;

(3) Examine the various approaches for funding social and health services, including the role of federal, state, local, and private organizations;

(4) Examine the structure, organization, and service delivery systems for social and health services in other states;

(5) Consider and analyze the advantages and disadvantages of alternative service delivery systems, case management, and management structures, including a locally based management system;

(6) Research federal, state, and local laws, rules, and ordinances that would affect changes in the structure, organization, and delivery of social and health services in this state;

(7) Coordinate its research with other ongoing efforts to examine related organizational and service delivery issues including, but not limited to, the Washington state commission on efficiency and accountability, the governor's commission on children, and the Washington state institute for public policy. In its analysis of service delivery issues, the commission shall consider the recommendations of the local governance study commission;

(8) Conduct public hearings and solicit advice and recommendations from clientele groups, labor organizations, the private sector, local government representatives, the legislature, state agencies, community and neighborhood organizations, public interest and advocacy groups, employees engaged in the delivery of social and health services, and others;

(9) Determine if changes in the management structure and organization of agencies providing social and health services will result in more efficient, effective, and economical delivery of those services. Identify the relationship between such changes and service delivery improvements;

(10) Make periodic reports to the governor and appropriate legislative standing committees on its progress; and

(11) By October 1, 1989, submit recommendations to the governor and the legislature regarding the structure and organization of social and health services. If the commission ascertains that structural or organizational changes will result in more efficient, effective, and economical service delivery, the recommendations shall include a plan and enabling legislation to implement those changes, including recommendations for phasing in changes or developing pilot projects. The commission's recommendations shall be disseminated to the public.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. By January 1, 1990, the governor shall submit to the legislature comments or proposed revisions, if any, of the commission's plan and legislation. The legislature shall consider and either approve or disapprove the legislation proposed by the commission, or revisions thereto, during the first thirty days of the session commencing in 1990. If the legislature rejects the commission's plan and legislation, the legislature shall, after such rejection, consider and act upon other reorganization proposals relating to social and health services during the remainder of the session.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. Commencing on the effective date of this section and continuing through action by the legislature on the commission's reorganization plan, but no later than June 30, 1990, there shall be a moratorium on making changes in the structure of the department of social and health services, unless required to qualify for the receipt of federal funds. The moratorium does not apply to changes in the structure of the department below the division level.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. (1) The commission may appoint staff or contract for such staff services as are necessary to carry out its duties. The commission shall be within the office of financial management for the purpose of providing administrative support services to the commission and its staff.

(2) The commission may receive and expend gifts, grants, and endowments from public and private sources to carry out its duties.

(3) To the extent permitted by law, all agencies of the state shall cooperate fully with the commission in carrying out its duties under this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. (1) From the appropriation made to the house of representatives for the biennium ending June 30, 1989, thirty-seven thousand five hundred dollars shall be provided to the commission to carry out the provisions of this act.

(2) From the appropriation made to the senate for the biennium ending June 30, 1989, thirty-seven thousand five hundred dollars shall be provided to the commission to carry out the provisions of this act.

(3) From the appropriation provided to the department of social and health services for the biennium ending June 30, 1989, seventy-five thousand dollars shall be provided to the commission to carry out the provisions of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. This act shall expire on June 30, 1990.