REP. KAGI UNVEILS MAJOR AMENDMENT TO CHILD WELFARE BILL

UPDATED 3/27/09******

On 3/26/09, Sen. Jim Hargrove unveiled an amendment to strike all the language in HB 2106 and reinserts the SB 5943 language and still alters the collective bargaining law - making 2106 now the bad Child Welfare Services bill.

While it is a scaled back version calling for only 60% of Child Welfare Services to be privatized, the bill still requires substantial investment in the private agencies' start up, transition and capacity building costs at a time when direct services to children and families are being severely cut back. These costs will not be identified until after the contracting is mandated and the state is disadvantaged to negotiate reasonable costs.

What we like: The amendment does provide for WSIPP (Washington State Institute for Public Policy) to analyze the results of this effort against the outcomes by the agency and report to the Governor by July 1, 2013 for consideration to expand the privatization statewide.

Right now further evaluation of both versions of the bill are being analyzed.

ACT NOW!

1. Call your legislators at 800-562-6000. Tell them:
   
   Please OPPOSE the 2SHB 2106 as it passed the Senate Human Services and Corrections Committee. Continue to OPPOSE E2SSB 5943.
   

RESOURCES

• NEW Senate Bill Report for 2SHB 2106
• KAGI STRIKDER AMENDMENT
  Text of Bill | Summary
• LETTER TO DSHS MEMBERS
  
• SSB 5943 FACT SHEET
  updated 3/5/09

At a hearing Tuesday morning (3/24/09), Rep. Ruth Kagi unveiled her amendment to strike all the language in the bad Child Welfare Services bill and replace it with language calling for a pilot project at two sites only.
[Striker Amendment Text | Summary ]

The good amendment to E2SSB 5943 will be voted on later this week in committee.

As passed by the Senate, E2SSB 5943 would have privatized all of DSHS Child Welfare Services.

But the amendment brought forth to the House Early Learning and Children’s Services Committee would take a more prudent and cost-effective approach.

Kagi, who chairs the committee, explained that her amendment would set up a parallel pilot project in two sites, with privatization but also with the ability of members to exercise their contractual rights to compete to provide the services.

The pilot project would then be evaluated to see if it worked and should be expanded or ended.

Watch the full hearing here.