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                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 2160

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State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1989 Regular Session

By Representatives Todd, Leonard, Brumsickle, Dellwo, Bowman, Moyer, D. Sommers, Silver, Prentice, Crane, Day, P. King, Winsley, Rector, Brekke and Rasmussen

Read first time 2/24/89 and referred to Committees on Human Services/Appropriations.

AN ACT Relating to the children's pilot project; amending section 4, chapter 503, Laws of 1987 (uncodified); creating a new section; and making an appropriation.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     The legislature finds that the children's pilot project established in chapter 503, Laws of 1987 provides early indications that (1) the state, in partnership with the community, can successfully develop and deliver a continuum of services for children and families; and (2) community services provided to children and families at low risk of abuse or neglect may avoid later referrals to more costly and intrusive services.  The legislature further finds that additional experience and data collection is necessary to properly evaluate pilot outcomes and determine the most effective level and continuum of services.

        Sec. 2.  Section 4, chapter 503, Laws of 1987 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows:

          (1) The pilot project shall commence on January 1, 1988, and shall terminate ((December 31, 1989)) June 30, 1991.  The department of social and health services shall provide a detailed implementation plan to the legislature by October 15, 1987.

          (2) The department's implementation plan shall include alternative management models for the pilot project providing for administration of the pilot projects by (a) the local administrator for the courts, (b) the department, (c) a  community-based organization, or (d) any combination of these entities.

          (3) The implementation plan shall also include a community participation component which describes all contracts and agreements with local agencies and professionals, including the name of the consulting community advisory group required in accordance with section 2(2) ((of this act)), chapter 503, Laws of 1987.

          (4) ((The implementation plan shall also include criteria and methodology for collecting data necessary for the evaluation in accordance with section 5 of this act.

          (5))) For purposes of providing services for the pilot projects, the department is authorized to combine funding categories in order to provide for efficient case management to meet the actual needs of children and families.

          (6) The department's implementation plan shall also include a proposal for a mechanism establishing a decision-making process when services needed by children and families extend beyond those services available from the division of children and family services.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.     The sum of one million eight hundred thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the general fund for the biennium ending June 30, 1991, to the department of social and health services to continue the children's pilot project established in chapter 503, Laws of 1987, through June 30, 1991.