HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1623

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                       Human Services

Title:  An act relating to therapeutic child care.

Brief Description:  Authorizing use of foster care services funds for therapeutic child care.

Sponsors:  Representatives Thibaudeau, Flemming, Brough, Wolfe, Roland, Brown, Leonard, Locke, Anderson, Talcott, King, Scott, J. Kohl and L. Johnson.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Human Services, March 1, 1993, DPS.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 10 members:  Representatives Leonard, Chair; Riley, Vice Chair; Cooke, Ranking Minority Member; Talcott, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Brown; Karahalios; Lisk; Padden; Thibaudeau; and Wolfe.

Staff:  David Knutson (786-7146).

Background:  The Legislature authorized the Department of Social and Health Services to transfer foster care funds to fund family preservation services for children at imminent risk of foster care placement.  Family preservation services have proven effective in preventing out-of-home placement of many children.  Therapeutic child care provides services to children who have been abused or neglected and who are at risk of out-of-home placement.  Foster care funds cannot currently be transferred to fund therapeutic chid care.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  Federal funds, which may become available for therapeutic child care, cannot be used to supplant state funds.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The ability of the secretary of the Department of Social and Health Services to transfer foster care funds to therapeutic child care is removed.  Federal funds cannot be used to supplant state funds for therapeutic child care.

Fiscal Note:  Requested February 8, 1993.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  Therapeutic child care provides a valuable service and can help many more children if additional funds are available.

Testimony Against:  Foster care dollars should not be transferred to therapeutic child care.

Witnesses:  (Pro) Becky Fontaine, Washington Children's Learning Centers; Ed Ferguson, Enterprise for Progress in the Community; Gerard Sidorowicz, Department of Social and Health Services; Pat Gogerty, Childhaven; and (Con) Joan Chappell, Foster Parent.