BILL REQ. #:  H-1316.2 

Read first time 01/29/2007.   Referred to Committee on Human Services.

     AN ACT Relating to specific juvenile reentry programs; and adding new sections to chapter 13.40 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 13.40 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) By September 1, 2007, the department shall convene an offender reentry work group. The work group shall:
     (a) Develop recommendations for the department regarding the requirements for the selection of the pilot program sites under section 2 of this act;
     (b) Establish the requirements, participation, duties, and activities for the implementation of the pilot programs under section 2 of this act;
     (c) Develop service models and best practices for the provision of offender treatment, victim services, and family support services through the pilot program to juvenile sex offenders, their victims, and families in situations in which the offender is a member of the same family as the victim;
     (d) Establish protocols or guidelines for the implementation of the service model, as well as outcome measures to evaluate the effectiveness of the service model; and
     (e) In 2010, review the report of the Washington state institute for public policy required under section 3 of this act and make recommendations to the department for any changes to the guidelines and service model to reflect lessons learned from the pilot sites by November 30, 2010.
     (2) The work group shall, at a minimum, include representatives from the following:
     (a) The Washington coalition of sexual assault programs;
     (b) The office of crime victims advocacy;
     (c) The Washington association of prosecuting attorneys;
     (d) An individual or an organization providing legal counsel to juvenile sex offenders;
     (e) Team child;
     (f) The department of social and health services;
     (g) The Washington association for the treatment of sexual abusers;
     (h) The juvenile court administrators;
     (i) Community sexual assault programs;
     (j) The Washington association of school principals;
     (k) The Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs;
     (l) The Washington association of child advocacy centers;
     (m) The office of the superintendent of public instruction; and
     (n) At least two representatives from agencies providing services to underserved communities and individuals.
     (3) The work group shall submit all information required under this section, except subsection (1)(e) of this section, to the department by June 1, 2008.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 13.40 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The department of social and health services shall conduct a pilot program to develop best practices for the successful reintegration of juvenile sex offenders into the family and community, particularly when the victim and the offender are members of the same family.
     (2)(a) Pilot sites shall be selected by September 1, 2008, and shall be established in three locations, with at least one location in eastern Washington. The pilot program sites shall be selected through a request for proposal process.
     (b) The department shall develop criteria for selection of the program sites based upon the recommendations of the work group created under section 1 of this act.
     (3) The pilot programs shall implement the service model, protocols, and guidelines developed by the work group under section 1 of this act by September 1, 2008, or if the service model, protocols, or guidelines are not developed by September 1, 2008, implementation shall occur upon their development.
     (4)(a) The department shall select three sites to act as comparison sites for the purposes of the evaluation conducted by the Washington state institute for public policy under section 3 of this act. The comparison sites shall be similar to the sites chosen to be program sites.
     (b) The pilot programs shall participate in the evaluation of the service model, protocols, and guidelines conducted by the Washington state institute for public policy under section 3 of this act.
     (5) The department shall report to the legislature by December 1, 2010, on the results of the pilot program based on the findings of the Washington state institute for public policy evaluation of the pilot sites and the recommendations of the work group created under section 1 of this act. The department shall include recommendations for expansion of the program statewide if appropriate based upon the evaluation and recommendations of the work group.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   A new section is added to chapter 13.40 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) In 2007, the Washington state institute for public policy shall conduct research to identify best practices in offender treatment, victim services, and family support in situations in which a juvenile sex offender is a member of the same family as the victim. The institute shall report its findings to the department no later than November 30, 2007. The department shall submit the information provided by the institute to the work group created in section 1 of this act upon receipt of the information.
     (2) In 2007, the Washington state institute for public policy shall conduct an assessment of existing community responses throughout the state to juvenile sex offenders, their victims, and families. The assessment shall include an analysis of the structure of current systems for adjudication, disposition, placement, and supervision of juvenile sex offenders. The institute shall report its findings to the department of social and health services no later than April 30, 2008. The department shall submit the information provided by the institute to the work group created in section 1 of this act upon receipt of the information.
     (3) In 2008, the Washington state institute for public policy shall evaluate the three pilot programs and the three comparison sites selected under section 2 of this act to determine the effectiveness of the existing services to juvenile sex offenders, their victims, and families, and the delivery system for such service. The evaluation shall include an analysis of the current systems in each pilot program for adjudication, disposition, placement, and supervision of juvenile sex offenders. Additionally, the evaluation shall include interviews with parties involved in the system including offenders, victims, families, court personnel, and other relevant participants. The institute shall report its findings to the department no later than November 30, 2008. The department shall submit the information provided by the institute to the work group created in section 1 of this act upon receipt of the information.
     (4) In 2010, the Washington state institute for public policy shall evaluate the pilot programs selected under section 2 of this act to determine the effectiveness and outcomes for the service models, protocols, and guidelines implemented by the pilot programs. The institute shall report its findings to the department and appropriate committees of the legislature no later than October 31, 2010.