FINAL BILL REPORT

                 ESHB 1198

                         C 373 L 93

                     Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Implementing recommendations of the juvenile issues task force.

By House Committee on Human Services (originally sponsored by Representatives Leonard, Padden, Appelwick, King, Brough, Johanson, Jones, Roland, Long, G. Cole, Veloria, Horn, Karahalios, Springer, Wood, Flemming, Kessler, Lemmon and Pruitt).

House Committee on Human Services

Senate Committee on Law & Justice

Background:  The Juvenile Issues Task Force was created in 1990 to review: (1) the Juvenile Justice Act of 1977 as amended; (2) the At-Risk Youth Act of 1990; and (3) statutes related to youth.  The task force was made up of 32 individuals representing professionals in the juvenile justice and youth services field, citizens, and legislators.  The task force recommended statutory changes related to juvenile offenders, at-risk youth, runaways, families in conflict, and children with mental health or alcohol and drug needs.  The task force recommendations were included in ESHB 2466, which was enacted during the 1992 Legislative Session.  Governor Gardner signed the legislation on April 2, 1992, and vetoed several provisions of the bill, including giving judges greater discretion in sentencing juvenile offenders, housing juveniles in alternate residential settings, providing parents a greater role in treatment decisions for children suffering from mental health and alcohol or substance abuse problems, and issues related to racial disproportionality.  

Summary:  Definitions of community service, community supervision, community-based rehabilitation, monitoring and reporting requirements, and detention facilities are modified to clarify the sentencing options available to judges in sentencing juveniles.  Juvenile courts are granted greater discretion in housing juveniles in detention facilities.  Detention facilities can include secure and non-secure detention facilities.  The Department of Social and Health Services is required to monitor any disproportionality which may result from the greater discretion provided to judges and juvenile courts.

Votes on Final Passage:

House 95 0

Senate 48 0 (Senate amended)

House  97 0 (House concurred)

Effective:  July 25, 1993