AN ACT Relating to the task force to promote self-esteem and personal and social responsibility; creating new sections; and making an appropriation.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that the continuation and future success of our democratic system of government and society are dependent upon the exercise of responsible citizenship by each and every resident of Washington.

It is the responsibility of the legislature and the governor as elected representatives of the people to address and solve our major behavioral social problems. This can be achieved by addressing the root causes of these problems thereby providing a cost-effective approach considering that prevention will result in a significant cost savings in the costly programs we now must provide. Evidence of these problems can be found in the programs and billions of dollars spent to clean up many seemingly intractable social problems including crime, violence, alcoholism, drug abuse, child abuse, teenage pregnancy, chronic welfare dependency, and children failing to learn.

The solution to these problems is not the sole responsibility of the government. Citizens must have the knowledge they need to address these problems in their personal lives and the lives of their community members.

Therefore, the legislature hereby creates the Washington task force to promote self-esteem and personal and social responsibility. The purpose of the task force is to:

(1) Compile the leading research concerning the relationship of healthy self-esteem to the development of personal responsibility and the following social problems, including, but not limited to: (a) Crime and violence; (b) alcoholism and drug abuse; (c) child and spousal abuse; (d) teenage pregnancy; (e) the failure of children to learn; and (f) recidivism;

(2) Compile the world's most contemporary and credible research regarding how healthy self-esteem is nurtured, harmed, reduced, and rehabilitated;

(3) Identify and compile a listing of model programs in Washington that have as their intent and that indicate encouraging levels of success, the development of healthy self-esteem or the rehabilitation of healthy self-esteem;

(4) Identify policies and programs which support the development of healthy self-esteem and personal and social responsibility;

(5) Survey government and other public institutions, including government agencies, schools, and public assistance programs, to determine whether the manner in which they treat people serves to dehumanize persons and adversely affect their healthy self-esteem;

(6) Determine ways in which nongovernmental institutions, including family, social, and religious organizations can be more supportive of the development and perpetuation of healthy self- esteem;

(7) Identify and encourage further research and other available information relevant to the relation of self-esteem to the causes of the social problems enumerated in this section;

(8) Determine how the following forces are related to self- esteem: (a) Prenatal care; (b) infant and child care; (c) parenting and parent education; (d) hunger and poverty; (e) physical development; (f) education; (g) family violence including child and spousal abuse; (h) prejudice and discrimination; (i) justice and the penal system; (j) social service systems; (k) media and advertising; and (l) other institutions or factors identified by the task force.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. To accomplish the tasks outlined in section 1 of this act, the task force may conduct public hearings, conferences, and other efforts to collect and disseminate information, make recommendations to the legislature including findings on the importance of self-esteem, development, promotion and rehabilitation of self-esteem, program development and modification necessary to improve or support healthy self-esteem, and make information available to laypersons that is readily understandable and valuable for their lives, families, and practices.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. (1) The task force shall consist of twenty-five members, broadly reflective of the general public of Washington, including ethnic minorities, women, and persons of varying economic levels, all of whom have demonstrated abilities, visions, or experience in the enhancement of self-esteem, personal and social responsibility, and good citizenship.

(2) The membership of the task force shall include the governor, attorney general, superintendent of public instruction, director of adult corrections, director of juvenile corrections, and the secretaries of the departments of health and social and health services.

(3) The governor shall appoint twelve members and shall designate the chair of the task force.

(4) The president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives shall each select six members, three from the majority and three from the minority party.

(5) In appointing twelve members, the governor shall seek recommendations from law enforcement, corrections, mental health, social sciences, education, religion, organizational development, psychology and counseling, the media, and community-based service organizations to assure a diversity of membership on the task force. Attempts should be made to have the appointees also represent ex-convicts, victims of violent crime, students, and recipients of aid to families with dependent children.

(6) Task force members shall be reimbursed for their travel and per diem expenses.

(7) The chairperson of the task force shall appoint a search committee reflective of the composition of the task force which shall, in turn, make recommendations to the task force concerning the employment of the executive director and other appropriate staff. The task force may delegate to an executive committee comprised of its members the responsibility of overseeing the operation of the task force.

(8) Office facilities, support services, and other in-kind services shall be provided by the office of financial management.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. (1) The task force shall report its progress to the legislature by January 1, 1991, and January 1, 1992, and shall submit its findings and recommendations in a final report to the legislature on or before January 1, 1993.

(2) The task force shall publish sufficient copies of its report to provide one to every public library, school district, and college or university library in the state, as well as to interested private citizens.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. The sum of .......... dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1991, from the general fund to the office of financial management for the purposes of the operation of the Washington task force to promote self-esteem and personal and social responsibility.