HOUSE BILL REPORT

SSB 5214

BYSenate Committee on Children & Family Services (originally sponsored by Senator Smith)

Mandating abuse and neglect reporting.

House Committe on Human Services

Majority Report:  Do pass. (11)

      Signed by Representatives Bristow, Chair; Scott, Vice Chair; Moyer, Ranking Republican Member; Tate, Assistant Ranking Republican Member; Anderson, Brekke, Hargrove, Leonard, Padden, Raiter and Winsley.

House Staff:Jean Wessman (786-7132)

AS PASSED HOUSE APRIL 4, 1989

BACKGROUND:

Current law requires the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) to report in writing to law enforcement whenever they receive a report of abuse or neglect that involves a child, adult dependent, or developmentally disabled person who has died, been physically injured, or subject to sexual abuse.

Law enforcement is required to notify DSHS of all reports received by them including their disposition.

There are no statutory time frames for this reporting and there has been concern expressed that necessary evidence for determining whether criminal prosecution should be pursued may be lost.

DSHS is required to report on the use of the risk assessment tool in three pilot sites by December 1988.

SUMMARY:

When reports of abuse and neglect are received that are considered an emergency, law enforcement and the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) shall notify each other within 24 hours.  Notification shall be made within 72 hours for all other reports.  If the original notification to law enforcement is oral, a written report by DSHS shall be made within five days.

DSHS shall report to the appropriate committees of the Legislature on use of the risk assessment tool by December 1989.

Fiscal Note:      Available.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Walter Ball, Association of Washington School Principals; and Larry Daly, Child Advocate, Daly Consulting.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    Law enforcement has sometimes found it impossible to pursue criminal charges against a person alleged to have committed abuse or neglect because physical evidence has been lost due to the lengthy delay between the time the original report was received and when it was reported to law enforcement. DSHS should be required to report to law enforcement within no longer than 72 hours and even sooner if necessary.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.