H-3570              _______________________________________________

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 1497

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1986 Regular Session

By Representatives Scott, Thomas, Crane, Armstrong, Lewis, P. King, Zellinsky, Hargrove, May, Schoon and Winsley

Read first time 1/17/86 and referred to Committee on Judiciary.

AN ACT Relating to juveniles; amending RCW 13.32A.250 and 13.34.165; creating a new section; and prescribing penalties.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     The legislature finds that children who are dependent or in conflict with their families and who violate court-ordered placements or other terms of a court order which may detrimentally affect their emotional or physical well-being should face the consequences of their actions.  The legislature further finds that use of the power of contempt of court can accomplish this while maintaining the distinction between these children and juveniles who have violated the criminal laws.  It is the intent of the legislature to broaden the court's contempt powers and emphasize that contempt is the appropriate tool for punishing violations of court orders.

        Sec. 2.  Section 14, chapter 298, Laws of 1981 and RCW 13.32A.250 are each amended to read as follows:

          (1) Failure by a party to comply with an order entered under this chapter is punishable as contempt.

          (2) Contempt under this section is punishable by a fine of up to one hundred dollars and imprisonment for up to ((seven)) fourteen days, or both.

          (3) A child found in contempt under this section shall be imprisoned only in a secure juvenile detention facility operated by or pursuant to a contract with a county.

          (4) The procedure in a contempt proceeding held under this section is governed by RCW 7.20.040 through 7.20.080, as now law or hereafter amended.

          (5) A motion for contempt may be made by a parent, a child, juvenile court personnel, or by any public agency, organization, or person having custody of the child under a court order adopted pursuant to this chapter.

        Sec. 3.  Section 1, chapter 257, Laws of 1985 and RCW 13.34.165 are each amended to read as follows:

          (1) Failure by a party to comply with an order entered under this chapter is punishable as contempt.

          (2) Contempt under this section is punishable by confinement for up to ((seven)) fourteen days.

          (3) A child found in contempt under this section shall be confined only in a secure juvenile detention facility operated by or pursuant to a contract with a county.

          (4) The procedure in a contempt proceeding under this section is governed by RCW 7.20.040 through 7.20.080.

          (5) A motion for contempt may be made by a parent, juvenile court personnel, or by any public agency, organization, or person having custody of the child under a court order entered pursuant to this chapter.