HOUSE BILL REPORT

SHB 2819

BYHouse Committee on Human Services (originally sponsored by Representatives Brekke, Hargrove, Padden, Sayan, Jones, Tate, Valle, Prentice, Rayburn, Day, P. King, May, Winsley, Leonard, Walker, Scott, H. Myers, Rector, Cooper, Rasmussen and Van Luven) 

Creating a children's ombuds.

House Committe on Human Services

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (11)

      Signed by Representatives Sayan, Chair; Scott, Vice Chair; Moyer, Ranking Republican Member; Tate, Assistant Ranking Republican Member; Anderson, Brekke, Hargrove, Leonard, Padden, Raiter and Winsley.

House Staff:Dave Knutson (786-7146)

Rereferred House Committee on Appropriations

Majority Report:  The substitute bill by Committee on Human Services be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (20)

      Signed by Locke, Chair; Grant, Vice Chair; Silver, Ranking Republican Member; Youngsman, Assistant Ranking Republican Member; Belcher, Bowman, Brekke, Dorn, Doty, Ebersole, Hine, Inslee, May, McLean, Nealey, Peery, Rust, Sprenkle, Valle and Wineberry.

House Staff:      Michelle Hauth (786-7384)

AS PASSED HOUSE FEBRUARY 12, 1990

BACKGROUND:

The Division of Children and Family Services within the Department of Social and Health Services receives more citizen complaints than any other organization in the agency.  It is difficult to investigate and resolve many of these complaints brought by parents.

SUMMARY:

The director of the Department of Community Development will appoint a person to investigate complaints and resolve disputes involving child welfare services provided by the Department of Social and Health Services and any citizen bringing a complaint. The person appointed to investigate and resolve complaints will maintain a toll-free hotline, have access to records, maintain the confidentiality of records where required by federal or state law, interview appropriate people, and prepare recommendations to resolve complaints.  The person appointed to investigate and resolve complaints is designated a mandatory reporter for allegations of child abuse and neglect.

Appropriation:    $90,000 to the Department of Community Development.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    (Human Services)  Malcom Ward and Margie Kranz.

(Appropriations)  Representative Joanne Brekke, prime sponsor; and Margie Kranz.

House Committee - Testified Against:      (Human Services)  Katharine Briar, Department of Social and Health Services.

(Appropriations)  No one.

House Committee - Testimony For:    (Human Services)  An independent person to investigate complaints and provide resolution services for child welfare cases is needed.  The Department of Social and Health Services cannot be trusted to investigate itself.

(Appropriations)  This bill would provide an objective review of complaints about the Department of Social and Health Services when a child is taken or not taken out of the home.  This establishes an outside entity to review the processes and make recommendations.  The cost of this program would be covered by the savings in legislative and department staff time investigating complaints.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      (Human Services)  The Department of Social and Health Services should continue to investigate child welfare complaints made against it. This will help improve management of child welfare programs.

(Appropriations)  None.