SENATE BILL REPORT

                   HB 2344

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

                Ways & Means, February 23, 2000

 

Title:  An act relating to community corrections caseload forecasting.

 

Brief Description:  Authorizing the caseload forecast council to forecast community corrections caseloads.

 

Sponsors:  Representatives Huff, McIntire, Linville, Alexander, Kenney and Parlette; by request of Caseload Forecast Council.

 

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Ways & Means:  2/23/2000 [DPA].

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

 

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

  Signed by Senators Loveland, Chair; Brown, Vice Chair; Fairley, Fraser, Honeyford, Kohl-Welles, Long, McDonald, Rasmussen, Roach, Rossi, B. Sheldon, Snyder, Spanel, Thibaudeau, West, Winsley, Wojahn and Zarelli.

 

Staff:  Bryon Moore (786-7726)

 

Background:  The Caseload Forecast Council was created in 1997.  The council consists of appointees from both the legislative and executive branches and employs a staff of five persons.

 

The council prepares caseload forecasts for a number of entitlement programs.  The forecasts the council is currently responsible for are set forth in statute and include, "... public assistance programs, state correctional institutions, state institutions for juvenile offenders, the common school system, long-term care, medical assistance, foster care, and adoption support."

 

The forecast for the number of offenders supervised by the Department of Corrections is currently prepared, on a biennial basis, by the Department of Corrections.  The total appropriation for the community corrections program within the Department of Corrections in the 1999-2001 biennium is $120.1 million.

 

Summary of Amended Bill:  The Caseload Forecast Council prepares the "state correctional non­institutional supervision" forecast.

 

Amended Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The null and void clause is removed.

 

Appropriation:  None.

 

Fiscal Note:  Available.

 

Effective Date:  The bill takes effect on July 1, 2000.

 

Testimony For:  The bill fits with the intent behind the community custody ranges developed as a result of the Offender Accountability Act.  Having the Caseload Forecast Council do the community corrections supervision forecast will increase awareness and oversight of issues involved in this forecast.

 

Testimony Against:  None.

 

Testified:  Dave Fallen, Caseload Forecast Council.