HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2531

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                 Children & Family Services

Title:  An act relating to the council for the prevention of child abuse and neglect.

Brief Description:  Adding the secretary of health to the council for the prevention of child abuse and neglect.

Sponsors:  Representatives Patterson, Talcott, Tokuda, Cooke, Ogden, Dickerson and Basich.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Children & Family Services:  1/26/96, 1/30/96 [DP].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 11 members:  Representatives Cooke, Chairman; Lambert, Vice Chairman; Stevens, Vice Chairman; Tokuda, Ranking Minority Member; Brown, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Boldt; Buck; Carrell; Dickerson; Patterson and Sterk.

Staff:  Douglas Ruth (786-7134).

Background:  The Washington Council for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect was formed in 1982 to assist private and public agencies to identify and establish community-based educational and service programs for the prevention of child abuse and neglect.  The council is comprised of 13 members, consisting of the Secretary of Social and Health Services (or the secretary's designee), the Superintendent of Public Instruction (or the superintendent's designee), four members of the Legislature (designated as non-voting members of the council), and six citizens who have an interest or an expertise in child abuse prevention (four of  whom may not be affiliated with governmental agencies).

The council funds and administers community-based parenting skills programs, conducts public education campaigns to increase the public's knowledge of good parenting techniques, administers programs for reducing child abuse, and presents a biennial report to the Governor and the Legislature concerning the effectiveness of various activities for reducing the incidence of child abuse.  The council contracts with non-profit organizations, schools, and individuals to carry out its mandate.

Council members are compensated up to $50 a day for work related to the council's duties and are reimbursed for travel expenses.

Summary of Bill:  The Secretary of the Department of Health, or the secretary's designee, is added as a voting member to the Council on Child Abuse and Neglect.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  None.

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

Testimony For:  Because the council has a staff of only four and has limited resources, it is important that they are able to collaborate with all public agencies.  They have been able to do this on an informal basis with the Department of Health, but a formal working relationship will ensure that the duplication of effort is minimized and will promote a freer exchange of information.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  (Pro) Carmen Ray, Washington Council for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect; Bruce Miyahara, Department of Health; and Kathleen Eussen, Washington State Association of Local Public Health.