HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 586

BYRepresentatives Scott, Lewis, Brekke, Winsley, Leonard, Brough, Betrozoff, R. King, Doty, P. King, Todd, Unsoeld and May

Providing for comprehensive child protective services.

House Committe on Human Services

Majority Report:     The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (8)

     Signed by Representatives Brekke, Chair; Scott, Vice Chair; Leonard, Moyer, H. Sommers, Sutherland, Wang and Winsley.

House Staff:Jean Wessman (786-7132)

Rereferred House Committee on Ways & Means/Appropriations

Majority Report:     The second substitute bill be substituted therefor and the second substitute bill do pass.  (23)

     Signed by Representatives Locke, Chair; Allen, Belcher, Braddock, Brekke, Bristow, Ebersole, Fuhrman, Grant, Grimm, Hine, Holland, McLean, McMullen, Nealey, Niemi, Peery, Sayan, Silver, L. Smith, H. Sommers, Sprenkle and B. Williams.

House Staff:    Dave Knutson (786-7146)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS/APPROPRIATIONS

MARCH 9, 1987

BACKGROUND:

An internal review of Child Protective Services (CPS) was completed by the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) in late 1985.  Numerous suggestions were included for improving the functioning of CPS. Due to changes in the Department of Social and Health administration and the timing of the report in comparison to the 1986 legislative session, this review was not acted upon. Following a highly publicized incident whereby a fatal injury was allegedly caused by child abuse, several groups of legislators and service providers met to formulate recommendations for both implementing the suggestions in the internal review and other areas not included in the review.  One group consisting of members of the House of Representatives, professionals representing law enforcement, academia, day care, medical fields, social services and corrections unanimously concluded that certain specific services needed to be strengthened and expanded.  These included such community resources as the multi-disciplinary teams, therapeutic day care, foster parent support services, visiting public health nurses, parenting education and counseling services.  In addition, the group felt that the improved performance of department staff required additional staff, implementation of the risk assessment tool for case prioritization and screening, and higher levels of training and required experience to become and remain a caseworker.

SUMMARY:

SECOND SUBSTITUTE: Training standards for caseworkers are strengthened by requiring that training be completed before a caseworker can perform his/her tasks unsupervised.

Training is established for additional personnel involved in handling cases of child abuse and neglect including juvenile court judges, prosecutors, public defenders, administrative law judges, and law enforcement.

Foster parent training and supportive service are to be provided as an ongoing part of the foster care program.  Community multi-disciplinary teams are mandated and defined.

SUBSTITUTE BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  The intent section's goal is clarified to express legislative concern for children.

Specific caseload standards are deleted.  The risk assessment model used to screen child protective service cases is deleted.  The mandatory offering of community services for persons referred by Child Protective Services is deleted.

Caseworkers are required to meet minimum standards and complete comprehensive training before carrying cases without supervision.  The standards shall apply to intermittent, part-time and standby workers.

Training is expanded to include juvenile court personnel, the Office of Administrator for the Courts, the Criminal Justice Training Commission, and the Office of Administrative Hearings in order that personnel trained by these agencies shall be trained in the recognition of child abuse and neglect.  An annual report to the legislature on the numbers trained and intent of the training is deleted.

The appropriations for various purposes are deleted.

SECOND SUBSTITUTE COMPARED TO FIRST SUBSTITUTE:  The requirement that children's services caseloads met specific ratios is deleted.  Specific appropriations for a risk assessment tool, therapeutic day care, foster parent training, and counseling services are deleted.  An exemption to Department of Social and Health Services hiring freezes is deleted.  An annual report from agencies providing child protective services training is deleted.

CHANGES PROPOSED BY COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS/APPROPRIATIONS:  Second substitute proposed.

Fiscal Note:    Requested March 9, 1987.

Effective Date:The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect on July 1, 1987.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:     (Human Services)  Myrna Struchen, Citizen, Snohomish County; Ardis Morrow, Citizen, Kingston, Washington; Chris Ingersoll, Childrens Home Society of Washington, Seattle; Candas Robinson, Foster Parent; Karil Klingbeil, Harborview Medical Center, Ken Steely, Bill of Rights Legal Foundation (spoke in support of risk assessment); Sister Sharon Park, Catholic Conference (supports concept); Lonnie Johns-Brown, Washington State Chapter of National Organization for Women; Gary Moore, Washington Federation of State Employees; Bailey deIongh, Office of the Public Defender, Seattle; Dr. Shirley Anderson, Sexual Assault Center, Harborview Medical Center; Patrick Gogerty, Childhaven, Seattle; Margie Reeves, Washington Association for the Education of Young Children; and Jerry Wasson and Bob Dahlstrom, Department of Social and Health Services (testifiers took a neutral position).

(Ways & Means Appropriations)  Jon LeVeque, Alliance for Children, Youth and Families; Jerome Wasson, Department of Social and Health Services; Pam Bryan and Karil Kleinbeil, Harborview Hospital; and Pat Thibadeau, Child Haven.

House Committee - Testified Against: (Human Services)  Marilyn Gunther, Coalition of Concerned Citizens and Ken Steely, Bill of Rights Legal Foundation (opposition to Section 5 only of the bill).

(Ways & Means/Appropriations)  None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:     (Human Services)  In order to have a more successfully functioning Child Protective Services system, the changes recommended in this bill are necessary, especially increased caseworkers, increased training for caseworkers, training for juvenile court personnel and implementation of the risk assessment model for case prioritization.  Increased funding for the specified services is desperately needed to provide adequate community resources to protect children from abuse and neglect.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations)  Additional legislative direction to the Department of Social and Health Services regarding child protective services is needed.  Training for case work staff and foster parents is needed.  Additional support to the child protective services program is indicated.

House Committee - Testimony Against: (Human Services)  All caseworkers should have an advanced degree and be held more accountable for their action.  The risk assessment model should be piloted.  Training for juvenile court personnel cannot be mandated.  Increased caseworker training is necessary, but not competency tests.  Outside child-placing agencies need additional funding.  Decisions of multi-disciplinary teams should be final.  Grandparents should be allowed greater responsibility in determining the course of action Child Protective Services takes.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations)  None Presented.