HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 2582

BYRepresentatives Bowman, McLean, Basich, Hargrove, Moyer, Walker, R. Meyers, Fuhrman, Ballard, Silver, Schoon, Wood, Tate, Winsley and Todd

Revising provisions for detention of runaway youth.

House Committe on Human Services

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (7)

      Signed by Representatives Sayan, Chair; Scott, Vice Chair; Moyer, Ranking Republican Member; Tate, Assistant Ranking Republican Member; Hargrove, Padden and Winsley.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  (4)

      Signed by Representatives Anderson, Brekke, Leonard and Raiter.

House Staff:Dave Knutson (786-7146)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES JANUARY 25, 1990

BACKGROUND:

Runaway youth can be held in juvenile detention facilities under certain circumstances.  Runaways may be placed in detention if law enforcement has been notified by the court that probable cause exists to believe that the child has violated a court order related to alternative residential placements.  Runaways may also be placed in detention if the director of the crisis residential center to which they are taken finds the child is seriously assaultive or destructive towards others and the center cannot provide appropriate supervision and structure.  Runaways from crisis residential centers may be held in detention if the center cannot provide adequate supervision and structure to ensure the child will not run away again.  A runaway cannot be held in detention for more than 48 hours, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.  Juvenile detention facilities used to house runaways must first be certified by the Department of Social and Health Services.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Social and Health Services is not required to certify juvenile detention facilities used to house runaways.  Runaways may be held in juvenile detention facilities for a maximum of 48 hours, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.

Fiscal Note:      Requested January 16, 1990.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Representative Rose Bowman; William Logan, Lewis County Sheriff and Gary Edwards, Thurston County Sheriff.

House Committee - Testified Against:      Katharine Briar, Department of Social and Health Services; Margaret Casey, Alliance for Children, Youth and Families.

House Committee - Testimony For:    Runaways can be held in detention facilities now under certain circumstances. Certification by the Department of Social and Health Services serves as a barrier to fully implementing the law related to runaways.  It should be removed.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      The Legislature should not make it easier to detain runaway youth.  Runaways should be served through voluntary social service agencies.