HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 810

BYRepresentatives Meyers, Winsley, K. Wilson, Hargrove, Leonard, Padden, Lewis, Moyer, Scott, Brekke, Crane, Dellwo, May, P. King, Rasmussen, Rayburn, Todd and Miller

Establishing an office of child welfare ombudsman.

House Committe on Human Services

Majority Report:     The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (6)

     Signed by Representatives Brekke, Chair; Scott, Vice Chair; Leonard, Moyer, Padden and Winsley.

House Staff:Jean Wessman (786-7133)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES MARCH 4, 1987

BACKGROUND:

The recently increased media focus on Child Protective Services has ranged on both sides of the issue of removing a child from the home.  The public has concern not only with this issue, but also with the functioning of the families in conflict, alternative residential placement statutes and the juvenile code.  It is suggested that the creation of a nonpartisan, outside office for conflict resolutions and information provision in these three areas would assist in alleviating these concerns.

SUMMARY:

SUBSTITUTE BILL:  An office of the state child welfare ombudsman is created in the Governor's Office.  He/she shall ensure program and staff assistance as necessary to carry on the duties of the ombudsman.  The duties and powers of the state ombudsman include:  1) serving as an information resource to parents and/or legal guardians of children regarding the child abuse and neglect, families in conflict and dependency statutes; 2) investigating and resolving complaints by parents or legal guardians concerning departmental actions under the families in conflict and dependency statutes; 3) working with interested parties in providing accurate information on state child welfare and juvenile laws; 4) reporting annually on compliance with state law by those charged with those responsibilities; 5) providing for training of volunteers to participate in the ombudsman program; and 6) carrying out other designated duties.  The ombudsman is protected from discriminatory, disciplinary or retaliatory court testimony.  The records and files of the ombudsman are confidential, unless permission is given to release information by the concerned party or anonymity is preserved.

SUBSTITUTE BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  Technical changes were made to clarify that the office of the state child welfare ombudsman is located within the Governor's Office, include a missing statutory reference, and correct an erroneous reference to the secretary of the Department of Social and Health Services.

Fiscal Note:    Attached.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:     Representative Meyers, Bill Sponsor; Robert Ott, Kent, Washington; Margie Kranz, Juvenile Code Education Project, Department of Social and Health Services; Linda Zeitner, Washington Parents Coalition; Cyndie DeRemer, Citizen (letter read on her behalf by family member); Marilyn Gunther, Coalition of Concerned Citizens; and Jackie Stenger, Washington Association for the Education of Young Children.

House Committee - Testified Against: Jerry Wasson, Department of Social and Health Services (neutral position).

House Committee - Testimony For:     Currently interested parties lack a nonpartisan office to voice their concerns about the child abuse and neglect, dependency and families in conflict laws, policies and procedures.  Information about these areas is only obtainable from the Department of Social and Health Services and those dissatisfied with a Department of Social and Health Services action have no outside resource or arbitrator beyond expensive legal remedies.

House Committee - Testimony Against: This program cannot be funded or staffed within current appropriations to the Governor's Office.