CERTIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT

SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5431

Chapter 482, Laws of 2009

61st Legislature
2009 Regular Session



OUT-OF-HOME CARE--SUBSEQUENT FOSTER HOME PLACEMENT



EFFECTIVE DATE: 07/26/09

Passed by the Senate April 25, 2009
  YEAS 48   NAYS 0

BRAD OWEN
________________________________________    
President of the Senate
Passed by the House April 23, 2009
  YEAS 95   NAYS 0

FRANK CHOPP
________________________________________    
Speaker of the House of Representatives


 
CERTIFICATE

I, Thomas Hoemann, Secretary of the Senate of the State of Washington, do hereby certify that the attached is SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5431 as passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives on the dates hereon set forth.

THOMAS HOEMANN
________________________________________    
Secretary
Approved May 14, 2009, 11:49 a.m.








CHRISTINE GREGOIRE
________________________________________    
Governor of the State of Washington
 
FILED
May 18, 2009







Secretary of State
State of Washington


_____________________________________________ 

SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5431
_____________________________________________

AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE

Passed Legislature - 2009 Regular Session
State of Washington61st Legislature2009 Regular Session

By Senate Human Services & Corrections (originally sponsored by Senators Stevens, Hargrove, Regala, McAuliffe, Carrell, Brandland, and King)

READ FIRST TIME 02/23/09.   



     AN ACT Relating to subsequent foster family home placements; amending RCW 74.13.290; and adding a new section to chapter 13.34 RCW.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 74.13.290 and 1990 c 284 s 11 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) To provide stability to children in out-of-home care, placement selection shall be made with a view toward the fewest possible placements for each child. If possible, the initial placement shall be viewed as the only placement for the child. Pursuant to RCW 13.34.060 and 13.34.130, placement of the child with a relative or other suitable person is the preferred option. The use of short-term interim placements of thirty days or less to protect the child's health or safety while the placement of choice is being arranged is not a violation of this principle.
     (2) If a child has been previously placed in out-of-home care and is subsequently returned to out-of-home care, and the department cannot locate an appropriate and available relative or other suitable person, the preferred placement for the child is in a foster family home where the child previously was placed, if the following conditions are met:
     (a) The foster family home is available and willing to care for the child;
     (b) The foster family is appropriate and able to meet the child's needs; and
     (c) The
placement is in the best interest of the child.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 13.34 RCW to read as follows:
     If a child has been previously placed in out-of-home care and is subsequently returned to out-of-home care, and the department cannot locate an appropriate and available relative or other suitable person, the preferred placement for the child is in a foster family home where the child previously was placed, if the following conditions are met:
     (1) The foster family home is available and willing to care for the child;
     (2) The foster family is appropriate and able to meet the child's needs; and
     (3) The placement is in the best interest of the child.


         Passed by the Senate April 25, 2009.
         Passed by the House April 23, 2009.
         Approved by the Governor May 14, 2009.
         Filed in Office of Secretary of State May 18, 2009.