HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1668

 

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                 Children & Family Services

 

Title:  An act relating to foster parents.

 

Brief Description:  Providing foster parents with first aid/CPR and HIV/AIDS training.

 

Sponsors:  Representatives McDonald, Kagi, Boldt, Tokuda, Dickerson and Santos.

 

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Children & Family Services:  2/11/99, 2/25/99 [DP].

 

                 Brief Summary of Bill

 

$The Department of Social and Health Services will pay for HIV/AIDS and first aid/CPR training for foster parents.

 

 

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES

 

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 9 members:  Representatives D. Sommers, Republican Co-Chair; Tokuda, Democratic Co-Chair; Boldt, Republican Vice Chair; Kagi, Democratic Vice Chair; Campbell; Dickerson; Eickmeyer; Kastama and Pflug.

 

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  Signed by 1 member:  Representative Carrell.

 

Staff:  David Knutson (786-7146).

 

Background: 

 

Foster parents are required to meet minimum licensing requirements prior to being licensed by the Department of Social and Health Services.  One of the minimum licensing requirements is the completion of first aid/CPR and HIV/AIDS training.  Foster parents are required to pay for their own training prior to being licensed.

 

 

Summary of Bill: 

 

The Department of Social and Health Services will pay for the first aid/CPR and HIV/AIDS training required for foster parents.

 

 

Appropriation:  The sum of $175,000.

 

Fiscal Note:  Available.

 

Effective Date:  The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect July 1, 1999.

 

Testimony For:  Foster parents should not be required to pay for their own training.  The Department of Social and Health Services should support foster parents by paying for state-required training.

 

Testimony Against: None.

 

Testified:  (In support)  Representative Joyce McDonald (prime sponsor); Robert Ott, Foster Parents Association of Washington State;  Darlene Flowers, Foster Parents Association of Washington State;  Tina Davis;  and Ann Webster, Children's Home Society.