HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 2358

BYRepresentatives H. Myers, Brumsickle, G. Fisher, Holland, Rector, Jones, Jacobsen, Wineberry, Kremen, Winsley, Schoon, Tate, Wang, Cooper, Miller, Van Luven and Phillips; by request of Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Creating a child abuse prevention program.

House Committe on Education

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.  (17)

      Signed by Representatives Peery, Chair; G. Fisher, Vice Chair; Betrozoff, Ranking Republican Member; Brumsickle, Cole, Dorn, Holland, Horn, Jones, P. King, Pruitt, Rasmussen, Rayburn, Schoon, Valle, Walker and K. Wilson.

House Staff:Bob Butts (786-7841)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION JANUARY 31, 1990

BACKGROUND:

Child abuse takes many forms, including physical abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect.  Not only does the abuse result in immediate pain for the child, it is established that a strong correlation exists between child maltreatment and later delinquent behavior. Children who are victims of violence often grow up to become delinquent.

Estimating the number of children that are abused is extremely difficult because of the large number of cases that are known only to the parties involved.  Many children do not report abuse.  Also, indicators of abuse may be hard to detect, which makes it difficult for teachers and social workers to identify child abuse victims.

In an effort to better define the state's child abuse problem, the Governor's Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee, law enforcement personnel, and the Attorney General's office compiled statewide law enforcement data on child abuse for the first six months of 1988. During this period, more than 5,300 incidents were reported to law enforcement personnel.  Approximately 50 percent of the incidents involved sexual assaults, 30 percent involved physical abuse, and 20 percent involved neglect.

SUMMARY:

BILL AS AMENDED:  The Legislature recognizes the importance of cooperation between school districts and child protective offices in providing assistance to abused and neglected children.

The Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) shall appoint a task force to develop an integrated service delivery program for child abuse prevention in the schools.  Members of the task force shall include representatives of administrators, teachers, parents, nurses, counselors, the Department of Social and Health Services, and the Washington Association of Child Abuse Council.  The task force shall deliver its report to the Legislature by December 15, 1990.

SPI shall identify, train, coordinate, and monitor child abuse prevention education specialists.  These specialists will provide statewide training and leadership to local school districts.

SPI also may grant funds to school districts for training child abuse prevention education specialists.  In determining the amount of the grant, SPI shall consider the size of the district.  No grants may be for less than $500.  Grants may be used for training programs to: identify and report child abuse; teach students personal safety;  work with families; improve counseling skills for abused children; work with abused children in the classroom; and enhance parenting skills.

AMENDED BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  Language is removed that declared the Legislature's intent to prohibit corporal punishment in schools.  An appropriation of $1,000,000 is deleted, and implementation of the grant program is made subject to an appropriation in the budget.

Fiscal Note:      Available.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Representative Holly Myers; Bob Maier, Washington Education Association; Kelli Linville, Washington Education Association, Bellingham; Don Johnson, Superintendent of Public Instruction; Ruth Harms, Superintendent of Public Instruction; Ann Simons; Toni Taber; Brett Heisler, Washington State PTA; Sally McQuown, Washington Assembly for Citizens with Disabilities.

House Committee - Testified Against:      No one.

House Committee - Testimony For:    If we are going to reduce the number of child abuse cases in the state, we must increase awareness training for teachers and provide personal safety classes for children.  Also, children who are victims of abuse need substantial psychological and emotional support that currently is not available in our schools.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None.