HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1692

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                 Children & Family Services

Title:  An act relating to investigations involving children as witnesses and victims.

Brief Description:  Providing special training for those who interview child witnesses and victims.

Sponsors:  Representatives Kagi, Tokuda, Boldt, Edmonds, Dickerson, Talcott, Kastama, Lovick, Wood, Kenney, Schual‑Berke, Eickmeyer, Ogden, Santos, Mitchell, Bush and Stensen.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Children & Family Services:  2/8/99, 2/25/99 [DPS].

           Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

$Specialized training for law enforcement and children's caseworkers who interview child sexual abuse victims is provided.

$A state model protocol and local protocols will be established governing multidisciplinary investigations of child abuse and neglect.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 10 members:  Representatives D. Sommers, Republican Co-Chair; Tokuda, Democratic Co-Chair; Boldt, Republican Vice Chair; Kagi, Democratic Vice Chair; Campbell; Carrell; Dickerson; Eickmeyer; Kastama and Pflug.

Staff:  David Knutson (786-7146).

Background:

A recent report of the Office of the Family and Children's Ombudsman recommended several improvements related to investigations of alleged abuse and neglect by law enforcement and child protective service workers. The ombudsman recommended improvements in documenting interviews, providing specialized and ongoing training in effective interviewing techniques for child protective services staff and law enforcement, and establishing collaborative protocols between child protective services and other agencies involved in child abuse investigations.

Summary of Substitute Bill:

The Criminal Justice Training Commission and the Department of Social and Health Services will provide introductory and specialized training for law enforcement and child protective services staff who interview children.  The Washington Institute for Public Policy will convene a group to develop a model written protocol for establishing multidisciplinary investigations.  Each local agency involved in investigating child abuse will adopt a local protocol based on the model state standard.  Each county will also adopt a written protocol for handling child abuse investigations.  The local protocols will be adopted and in place by July 1, 2000.

The Department of Social and Health Services will operate up to three pilot projects involving child abuse and neglect investigations.  The department will provide reports to legislative committees in December 1999 and December 2000.  The department will provide a near verbatim record of disclosure interviews involving child sexual abuse cases.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  Specialized training for investigators will be prioritized for child sexual abuse cases.  The Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs will participate in the design and implementation of statewide training for child interviewers.  The Institute for Public Policy will convene a group to develop a model state protocol on multidisciplinary investigations.  The Department of Social and Health Services will conduct up to three pilot projects using different techniques for recording interviews.

Appropriation:  An unspecified amount is appropriated from the general fund.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  (Original bill) Law enforcement and caseworkers who interview child victims of sexual assault need specialized training.  There needs to be a standardized procedure for preserving interviews with child victims.  Law enforcement and caseworkers should follow a model state protocol for conducting multidisciplinary investigations of child abuse and neglect.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified:  (In support)  Laurie Lippold, Children's Home Society;  Suzanne Brown, Washington Coalition of Sexual Assault Program;  Seth Dawson, Common Ground for Children;  Sharon Tolton, Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission;  Roger Heine, Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission;  Rosie Oreskovich, Department of Social and Health Services;  and Donna Patrick, Developmental Disabilities Council.

(In support with amendments)  Tom McBride, Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys.

(Neutral)  Vickie Wallen, Office of Family and Children's Ombudsman.

(Undecided)  Jerry Sheehan, American Civil Liberties Union of Washington.