HOUSE BILL REPORT

ESSB 6207

As Amended by the House

BYSenate Committee on Children & Family Services (originally sponsored by Senators Craswell, Owen, Kiskaddon and Stratton)

Increasing out-of-home placement alternatives for victims of child abuse.

House Committe on Human Services

Majority Report:  Do pass with amendments.  (5)

      Signed by Representatives Brekke, Chair; Scott, Vice Chair; Leonard, Moyer and Sutherland.

House Staff:Jean Wessman (786-7132)

AS PASSED HOUSE MARCH 2, 1988

BACKGROUND:

Until the last year the number of children in foster care remained relatively stable at approximately five thousand children.  Not only has the number increased rapidly during the past year, an additional seven hundred and twelve children as of December 1987, but the cost per case has increased as more children with special needs have been placed.  This has increased the financial burden on the state in payments to licensed foster homes.  There is some evidence that children who are placed out- of-home with non-relatives suffer additional trauma.  Current statute allows for placement with a relative but no priority is placed on such placement.

SUMMARY:

When a child has been found by the court to be a dependent and ordered removed from his or her home, placement shall be with a relative if such relative is willing and available and the safety or welfare of the child would not be jeopardized nor efforts to reunite the family hindered.  The relative shall be a grandparent, brother, sister, stepbrother, stepsister, uncle, aunt, or first cousin. Such placement may occur after the necessary background investigations are completed and reported to the court within thirty days unless the relative is otherwise suitable and only the criminal history check is outstanding in which case, placement may proceed pending that check.  The placement shall be contingent upon the relative cooperating with the agency case plan and compliance with court orders regarding the care and supervision of the child.  Failure to cooperate shall be grounds for removal of the child from the relative's home.

Within the licensing statutes for out-of-home care, if only the criminal history background check is outstanding prior to placement with a relative, either after the shelter care hearing or the dependency disposition hearing, placement may occur pending receipt of that check.

The Department of Social and Health Services is directed to establish an advisory task force to examine procedures on out-of-home placements, specifically, as they relate to placement with relatives and to recommend procedures to encourage placement with relatives.  A report to the appropriate legislative committees is required prior to December 15, 1988.

Fiscal Note:      Available.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Senator Craswell, Prime Sponsor; Thomas Minnick, Washington State Coalition for Religious Liberty; and Ardis Morrow, Citizen.

House Committee - Testified Against:      Karen Tvedt and Nancy Taft, Department of Social and Health Services (with concerns).

House Committee - Testimony For:    Not enough effort is being made to place children with relatives.  The trauma of out-of-home placement would be lessened if a child is placed with a relative.  This should be the priority of the department.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      Current statute allows for placement with a relative.  This bill is unnecessary.