FINAL BILL REPORT

HB 1630

C 15 L 18

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Allowing minors to consent to share their personally identifying information in the Washington homeless client management information system.

Sponsors: Representatives Slatter, McDonald, Senn, Dent, Kilduff, McBride, Frame, Jinkins, Kloba, Santos, Appleton, Muri, Fey, Doglio, Stanford and Kagi; by request of Washington State Department of Commerce.

House Committee on Early Learning & Human Services

Senate Committee on Human Services, Mental Health & Housing

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

Senate Committee on Human Services & Corrections

Background:

The Office of Homeless Youth Prevention and Protection Programs (Office) at the Department of Commerce (COM) oversees programs serving unaccompanied and homeless youth and young adults up to age 24. These programs include HOPE centers, crisis residential centers (CRC), and street youth services.

HOPE centers provide voluntary, temporary residential placements for street youth under the age of 18. Youth may self-refer to a HOPE center. A CRC is a short-term, semi-secure facility for runaway youth and adolescents in conflict with their families. A youth may stay in a CRC for up to 15 consecutive days. Street youth services provides services and housing through community-based outreach.

The COM collects data from homeless and housing service providers using the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS). Providers who receive state or federal funds are required to use the HMIS to collect and manage client-level data. Providers may only collect personally identifying client information after obtaining informed consent from the individual and the HMIS must protect individual privacy.

Data in the HMIS is used to produce unduplicated counts of people experiencing homelessness, identify patterns of service use, and measure program effectiveness. The HMIS is also used as an online information and referral system for providers to connect clients with available housing and services.

Summary:

An unaccompanied youth aged 13 or older may consent to have his or her personally identifying information collected for the purposes of the HMIS. The term "unaccompanied" is defined as a youth or young adult experiencing homelessness while not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian.

Votes on Final Passage:

2017 Regular Session

2017 First Special Session

2017 Second Special Session

2018 Regular Session