HOUSE BILL REPORT

E2SSB 6610

BYSenate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators Craswell, Rasmussen, Smith, Stratton, Johnson, Bailey, Smitherman and Anderson)

Revising provisions for at-risk youth.

House Committe on Human Services

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.  (11)

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

House Staff:Dave Knutson (786-7146)

Rereferred House Committee on Appropriations

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended by Committee on Human Services.  (24)

      Signed by Representatives Locke, Chair; Grant, Vice Chair; H. Sommers, Vice Chair; Silver, Ranking Republican Member; Youngsman, Assistant Ranking Republican Member; Belcher, Bowman, Brekke, Brough, Dorn, Ferguson, Hine, Inslee, May, McLean, Nealey, Peery, Rust, Sayan, Spanel, Sprenkle, Valle, Wang and Wineberry.

House Staff:      Michelle Hauth (786-7384)

AS PASSED HOUSE MARCH 2, 1990

BACKGROUND:

In 1977 the Legislature enacted the "Juvenile Justice Act" and subsequently passed the "Runaway Youth Act."  The "Runaway Youth Act" was repealed in 1979 and replaced by the Procedures for Families in Conflict chapter. 

Family Reconciliation Services was created under this chapter to provide services to runaways and to children in conflict with their families.  These services are to be provided at the request of the family or in conjunction with an alternative residential placement petition (ARP).

The Department of Social and Health Services, a parent or the child may file an ARP petition.  If the child agrees to be placed outside of his or her home and a placement is available, the child is placed. 

Many persons who work with children are dissatisfied with the current system because it does not hold the child accountable and does not allow the parents or the court to intervene on the child's behalf.

The definition of gravely disabled person does not specifically include the failure or refusal to take required medication as evidence of serious physical harm.  A minor 13 years of age or older, cannot be held in a mental health treatment facility involuntarily upon giving written notice of intent to leave, a copy of which is sent to the parents.

SUMMARY:

The Procedures for Families in Conflict chapter is renamed the Family Reconciliation Act.

Family reconciliation services are available to resolve problems related to at-risk youth.  Provisions and procedures for the filing of a petition on behalf of an at-risk youth are established.  Department conducted family assessments are required prior to court consideration of an at-risk youth petition.  At a dispositional hearing, the court may require certain conditions for the supervision and treatment of an at-risk youth.  The court may order monitoring for compliance to these conditions.  The department is required to conduct a study of family reconciliation services and make recommendations to improve services for at-risk youth.

The bill is made contingent upon specific reference and funding in the budget.

The definition of gravely disabled person is clarified to include the failure or refusal to take required medications as evidence of serious physical harm.  A minor under the age of 15 can be involuntarily admitted by a parent to in-patient mental health services, and cannot be discharged without the consent of the parent.

Fiscal Note:      Available.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    (Human Services)  Richard McCreary; Curt Tabaka; Patsy Seeger; Jay Thompson; Dan Terrell; and Connie Hiats and Gordon Graham, Washington Parent's Coalition.

(Appropriations)  No one.

House Committee - Testified Against:      (Human Services)  Larry Fehr, Washington Council on Crime and Delinquency; and Jon Leveque, Alliance for Children, Youth and Families.

(Appropriations)  No one.

House Committee - Testimony For:    (Human Services)  Parents need a judicial process which allows them to use judicial authority to help control their children.

(Appropriations)  None.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      (Human Services)  Youth should not be detained in juvenile detention if they run away from home.

(Appropriations)  None.