HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2258

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                       Human Services

 

Title:  An act relating to background checks of caretakers of children, vulnerable adults and developmentally disabled persons.

 

Brief Description:  Authorizing guardians to obtain background checks of babysitters and caretakers.

 

Sponsors:  Representatives Valle, Cooke, Patterson, Brown, Wineberry, King, Campbell, L. Johnson and J. Kohl.

 

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Human Services, February 3, 1994, DP.

 

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES

 

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 11 members:  Representatives Leonard, Chair; Thibaudeau, Vice Chair; Cooke, Ranking Minority Member; Talcott, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Brown; Caver; Karahalios; Lisk; Padden; Patterson and Wolfe.

 

Staff:  Dave Knutson (786-7146).

 

Background:  Currently, employees and volunteers of businesses or organizations which serve people with developmental disabilities, vulnerable adults or children under 16 years of age must undergo a criminal history background check with the Washington State Patrol criminal identification system.  The background check reviews the applicant's record for convictions of offenses against children or other persons, convictions for crimes relating to financial exploitation, the issuance of a protection order under chapter 74.34 RCW, and state disciplinary board final decisions.  Babysitters and caretakers of children under age 16, people with developmental disabilities, or vulnerable adults are not required to submit to criminal history background checks through the Washington State Patrol.

 

Summary of Bill:  Babysitters and caretakers for children under 16, people with developmental disabilities and vulnerable adults are required to submit to criminal history checks through the Washington State Patrol.

 

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

 

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

 

Testimony For:  None.

 

Testimony Against:  None.

 

Witnesses:  None.