BILL REQ. #:  S-0656.2 

Read first time 01/24/2005.   Referred to Committee on Human Services & Corrections.

     AN ACT Relating to children of incarcerated parents; and creating new sections.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that children of incarcerated parents face significant obstacles in their lives. In many cases, these children have witnessed the arrest of a parent, face unstable living arrangements and multiple school placements, live under financial hardship, and experience the social stigma associated with their parents' incarceration. As a result of these factors, children of incarcerated parents are at risk for poor academic achievement, substance abuse, and delinquency and criminal activity that can lead to their own incarceration.
     The legislature intends to support children in the state whose parents are incarcerated by encouraging the state agencies involved with families of individuals who are incarcerated to coordinate and expand existing services for these families in order to improve the well-being of children of incarcerated parents both over the short term and the long term.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   (1) The department of corrections, in partnership with the department of social and health services, shall establish an oversight committee to develop a comprehensive interagency plan to provide the necessary services and supports for the children of this state whose parents are incarcerated in jail or prison.
     (2) The interagency plan shall include the following:
     (a) Identification of existing state services and programs, as well as recognized community-based services and programs, for children whose parents are incarcerated;
     (b) Identification of methods to improve collaboration and coordination of existing services and programs;
     (c) Recommendations concerning new services and programs for children whose parents are incarcerated, involving both interagency and community-based efforts; and
     (d) Identification of evidence-based practices and areas for further research to support the long-term provision of services and programs for children whose parents are incarcerated, including the following:
     (i) Identification and ongoing collection of data relating to incarcerated individuals in the state who have children under eighteen years of age; and
     (ii) Identification and sharing of information relating to children of incarcerated parents who are involved in the juvenile justice or child welfare systems, to the extent permissible under state and federal law.
     (3) The oversight committee shall include the following:
     (a) Representatives with decision-making authority of: The department of corrections, the children's administration of the department of social and health services, the juvenile rehabilitation administration of the department of social and health services, law enforcement and jails, the office of superintendent of public instruction, the courts, prosecuting attorneys and public defenders, and community-based agencies working with families of individuals who are incarcerated; and
     (b) Caregivers of children whose parents are incarcerated.
     (4) The oversight committee shall develop the interagency plan by June 30, 2006, with an interim report due January 1, 2006.