Runaway Bill May Mean Loss Of Federal Funding Loss Of More Than $1 Million A Year Could Cause Lowry To Veto Sections Of Measure

A measure giving the state new power to lock up and treat runaways could cost the state more than $1 million a year in federal funds, federal and state officials warned Friday.

One of the bill’s sponsors said he didn’t care because the legislation sent to the governor last month “is the right thing to do.”

But the development could give Gov. Mike Lowry reason to veto sections of the bill. The governor had already expressed concern about them. “The governor will look at the new information closely and determine whether it’s a legitimate concern,” said his spokesman, Jordan Dey. Lowry is expected to act on the measure in the middle of next week.

The Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention is criticizing provisions of the bill that would give state authorities power to hold runaways for up to five days, and to hold and treat them for up to six months if a judge declared them chronic runaways.

In a letter to the state Department of Social and Health Services, John J. Wilson, deputy administrator of the federal office, said, “I urge the governor and Legislature to review these issues before enacting the bill.”

He noted that a core requirement of the federal law that controls funding to the states for juvenile delinquency prevention is to reduce the number of youngsters held in secure facilities for “status offenses” such as running away.

He said the federal law gives states enough tools to get a handle on runaways.

“Since the state began participation in 1975, Washington has reduced the annual number of violations related to status offenders held in secure detention or confinement from 9,600 to zero,” Wilson wrote.

Rep. Jim Carrell, R-Lakewood, one of the bill’s sponsors, said those statistics are a monument to the state’s failure to deal with runaways.

“So what if we lose federal money? I want to save kids, and I don’t care. This is the right thing to do,” he said. Carrell and other backers contend Washington’s controls on runaways are so lax that the state has a national reputation as “runaway heaven.”

But Sen. Jeanne Kohl, D-Seattle, one of the few lawmakers who has publicly criticized the legislation, said the possible loss of federal funds is one more reason for Lowry to veto some sections of the measure.

“Rebellious youths should not necessarily be treated as if they are mentally ill, nor should they be treated like criminals,” she said. “Too many kids, fearing they will be locked up, won’t seek out the help they need.”

Among other major elements of the legislation:

A school truant could be denied a driver’s license and driver’s education, or have his license taken away.

People who did not report to a law enforcement agency that they were housing a runaway could be charged with a misdemeanor.

Parents would be allowed to commit their child to a substance abuse or mental health facility without the child’s consent. But within 15 to 30 days after commitment, county health officials could perform an independent review and petition the facility to release the child if they chose.