H-1041.2                  _______________________________________________

                                                      HOUSE BILL 1693

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State of Washington                              53rd Legislature                             1993 Regular Session

By Representatives Thibaudeau, Leonard and King

Read first time 02/05/93.  Referred to Committee on Human Services.

Authorizing issuance of credit cards to foster parents for expenses relating to care and support of foster children.

          AN ACT Relating to foster parents; adding a new section to chapter 74.13 RCW; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  The legislature finds that foster parents are often required to spend their own money on the care and treatment of foster children because the department of social and health services reimburses foster parents retrospectively for expenses incurred.  This places an additional burden on foster parents who are currently experiencing more difficult children for placement, low reimbursement rates, and demands for increased training and service outcomes.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 74.13 RCW under the subchapter heading "Foster Care" to read as follows:

          (1) The department of social and health services shall develop a system for issuing, through arrangements with appropriate financial institutions or department stores, state credit cards to foster parents.  The credit cards shall be used exclusively for the care and support of foster children placed with the foster parent by the department.

          (2) The department shall adopt rules for:

          (a) The distribution of the credit cards;

          (b) The authorization and control of the use of the credit cards;

          (c) The credit limits available on the credit cards;

          (d) Payments of the bills; and

          (e) Any other rule necessary to implement or administer the program under this section.

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