SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 6300

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

        Human Services & Corrections, February 1, 2000

Title:  An act relating to annual reports of, and recommendations for improvements in, equal access to delivery of human services by state agencies.

Brief Description:  Requiring annual reports of, and recommendations for improvements in, equal access to delivery of human services by state agencies.

Sponsors:  Senators Kohl‑Welles, Long, Hargrove, Horn, Costa, Brown and Franklin.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Human Services & Corrections:  1/28/2000, 2/1/2000 [DPS-WM].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES & CORRECTIONS

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6300 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

  Signed by Senators Hargrove, Chair; Costa, Vice Chair; Franklin, Kohl-Welles, Long, Patterson, Sheahan, Stevens and Zarelli.

Staff:  Fara Daun (786-7459)

Background:  There is substantial national research that shows that social services are disproportionately delivered.  There is also growing information to indicate that social service programs need to address the problems of boys and girls from different perspectives in order to be effective.  This may be a special concern in the area of juvenile justice.   There is nothing to suggest that the research relating to disproportional service delivery would not apply equally to programs and children in Washington State.  At present there is no unified source to determine whether social services for children in Washington are disproportionately delivered or whether there are proportionate numbers of programs to address the different needs of boys and girls.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  State agencies that provide human services to minors, directly or by contract, must report annually on the number of persons receiving services by gender and ethnicity.  The report is made to the Legislature and Governor and must include the type of human service provided and whether it is provided by the participating agency or by contract.  If the data indicate that equal access to services is not available, the agency must provide an explanation for the lack of equal access and a plan and cost for attaining it.  The submission of a plan does not create an entitlement for service.  Basic education is considered a human service only when it is provided at a facility owned or operated by the state.  The Office of Financial Management must adopt rules to implement the act.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The substitute contains a clarification that the submission of a plan required by this act does not create an entitlement to services in any person.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on January 13, 2000.

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

Testimony For:  There has been a 186 percent increase in the number of girls in the juvenile justice system in the past ten years and girls are now coming in for major felony offenses.  The system is not presently equipped to provide girls the same opportunities and choices that boys have, particularly with regard to vocational training opportunities.  Although some girls at Echo Glenn have no work experience except prostitution and drug selling, they do not have access to vocational programs.  The Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration (JRA) has been expanding opportunities for girls.  It has opened the boot camp to girls and in March girls will be eligible for Naselle work camp.  There are strong mental health programs and clinical services for both boys and girls.

Disproportionality in services goes beyond JRA.  There is a need to look more broadly at social services in general and at early juvenile justice interventions.  There is evidence that girls are arrested more often for status offenses.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Senator Jeanne Kohl-Welles, prime sponsor (pro); Shana Hormann, Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration (pro); Majken Ryherd, Washington Women United (pro); Lonnie Johns-Brown, National Association of Social Workers (pro); Tony Orange, Commission on African-American Affairs (pro).