HOUSE BILL REPORT

                E2SSB 5557

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                 Children & Family Services

Title:  An act relating to residential placement and transitional living services to street youth.

Brief Description:  Providing residential placement and transitional living services to street youth.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators Hargrove, Long, Costa, Patterson, Kohl‑Welles, Prentice, Thibaudeau, Franklin, Snyder, Bauer, Jacobsen, Winsley, Brown, Kline and Rasmussen).

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Children & Family Services:  3/25/99, 3/31/99 [DPA].

   Brief Summary of Engrossed Second Substitute Bill

            (As Amended by House Committee)

$Seventy-five HOPE center beds are established to serve street youth for up to 30 days.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.  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:

Many children who live on the streets do not have families they can be reunited with.  Residential placements for these children are limited.  Crisis residential centers are available as short-term placements, but after five days, if the child does not return home, they may again find themselves on the street.  Some older adolescents, who have been found dependent by the court, are not appropriate for a foster home placement. There is currently no service for older adolescents who require assistance in developing life skills in a safe environment prior to reaching the age of majority.

Summary of Amended Bill:

The Department of Social and Health Services will establish 75 HOPE center beds to serve street youth.  The HOPE center beds will be phased in over a three-year period beginning January 1, 2000.  The department will develop a method of reporting missing children information to the Missing Children Clearinghouse on children who are receiving departmental services.

Amended Bill Compared to Engrossed Second Substitute Bill:  The responsible living skills program is removed from the legislation. References to the Homeless Children's lawsuit is removed from the legislation.  The Business and Occupation and Utility tax credits are removed from the legislation.   The aggravating circumstances penalty enhancement is removed from the legislation. A null and void clause is added.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.  New fiscal note requested on March 23, 1999.

Effective Date of Amended Bill:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.  However, the bill is null and void unless funded in the budget.

Testimony For:  Street youth and older adolescents have limited residential and treatment services provided through the state.  Safe residential programs designed to help families reunite are needed for adolescents. 

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  (In support)  Senator Jim Hargrove (prime sponsor);  Seth Dawson, Washington State Coalition for the Homeless;  Marilee Roloff, Volunteers of America (Spokane);  and Jim Theofelis.