The department shall establish, maintain, operate and administer a comprehensive program for the custody, care, education, treatment, instruction, guidance, control and rehabilitation of all persons who may be committed or admitted to institutions, schools, or other facilities controlled and operated by the department, except for the programs of education provided pursuant to RCW 28A.190.030 through 28A.190.050 which shall be established, operated and administered by the school district conducting the program, and in order to accomplish these purposes, the powers and duties of the secretary shall include the following:

     (1) The assembling, analyzing, tabulating, and reproduction in report form, of statistics and other data with respect to children with behavior problems in the state of Washington, including, but not limited to, the extent, kind, and causes of such behavior problems in the different areas and population centers of the state. Such reports shall not be open to public inspection, but shall be open to the inspection of the governor and to the superior court judges of the state of Washington.

     (2) The establishment and supervision of diagnostic facilities and services in connection with the custody, care, and treatment of mentally and physically handicapped, and behavior problem children who may be committed or admitted to any of the institutions, schools, or facilities controlled and operated by the department, or who may be referred for such diagnosis and treatment by any superior court of this state. Such diagnostic services may be established in connection with, or apart from, any other state institution under the supervision and direction of the secretary. Such diagnostic services shall be available to the superior courts of the state for persons referred for such services by them prior to commitment, or admission to, any school, institution, or other facility. Such diagnostic services shall also be available to other departments of the state. When the secretary determines it necessary, the secretary may create waiting lists and set priorities for use of diagnostic services for juvenile offenders on the basis of those most severely in need.

     (3) The supervision of all persons committed or admitted to any institution, school, or other facility operated by the department, and the transfer of such persons from any such institution, school, or facility to any other such school, institution, or facility: PROVIDED, That where a person has been committed to a minimum security institution, school, or facility by any of the superior courts of this state, a transfer to a close security institution shall be made only with the consent and approval of such court.

     (4) The supervision of parole, discharge, or other release, and the post-institutional placement of all persons committed to Green Hill school and Maple Lane school, or such as may be assigned, paroled, or transferred therefrom to other facilities operated by the department. Green Hill school and Maple Lane school are hereby designated as "close security" institutions to which shall be given the custody of children with the most serious behavior problems.

[1990 c 33 § 592; 1985 c 378 § 10; 1983 c 191 § 12; 1979 ex.s. c 217 § 8; 1979 c 141 § 179; 1959 c 28 § 72.05.130. Prior: 1951 c 234 § 13. Formerly RCW 43.19.370.]

NOTES:

     Purpose -- Statutory references -- Severability -- 1990 c 33: See RCW 28A.900.100 through 28A.900.102.

     Severability -- Effective date -- 1985 c 378: See notes following RCW 72.01.050.

     Effective date -- Severability -- 1979 ex.s. c 217: See notes following RCW 28A.190.020.