SENATE BILL REPORT

SCR 8429

BYSenators Smith, Vognild, Bailey, Stratton and Conner

Creating the Washington State Adoption Commission.

Senate Committee on Children & Family Services

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 30, 1990; February 1, 1990

Majority Report:     That Substitute Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 8429 be substituted therefor, and the substitute concurrent resolution do pass.

     Signed by Senators Smith, Chairman; Craswell, Vice Chairman; Bailey, Stratton, Vognild.

Senate Staff:Carol Pedigo (786-7417)

                February 1, 1990

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE OF CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES, FEBRUARY 1, 1990

BACKGROUND:

During the 1989 Interim the Senate sponsored an Adoption Study Committee which was asked to review and make recommendations for necessary changes to current adoption laws.

Almost half of the adoptions which take place in Washington are done by independent adoption facilitators who are usually attorneys or doctors.  Neither professional group has any formalized education or training requirements for handling adoptions. They are required to follow very basic procedures in the adoption statute.  Adoption experts believe the families involved in independent adoptions would greatly benefit if the facilitators were educated about, and required to provided for various pre and post adoption services. 

After many meetings and discussions by the study committee, it was determined that these standards of practice issues would take more thorough review than time allowed.  It was also realized that reaching consensus would be difficult with a study committee where there were no appointed decision makers.  The committee recommended that a formal Adoption Commission be set up to hear possible solutions to this problem and make recommendations for change.

SUMMARY:

The Washington State Adoption Commission is created to establish guidelines for minimum standards of practice for adoption.  The Department of Social and Health Services, the Office of Administrator for the Courts, the Washington State Adoption Council, the Washington State Bar Association and the Washington State Medical Association are asked to assist the Senate in this effort.

The Commission is to be comprised of two members of the Senate, two members of the House of Representatives, and one member from the Washington State Bar Association, the Washington State Medical Association and the Office of Administrator for the Courts.  Four members of the Washington State Adoption Council are to be appointed to the Commission.

Funding for the per diem and travel expenses of the commission is to be paid jointly by the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The commission is to cease to exist at the conclusion of the legislative session in 1992.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) is to appoint one representative of that agency to the commission.  DSHS is to appoint two representatives to the commission from licensed private adoption agencies.  It is specified that one member is to be from eastern Washington and one is to be from western Washington and they must also represent infant, minority, special needs, in-country and out-of-country adoptions.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:   none

Fiscal Note:    available

Appointments by Legislature Required: Two members of the Senate, one from each caucus, appointed by the President; two members of the House of Representatives, one from each caucus, appointed by the Speaker.

Senate Committee - Testified:   PRO:  Cecil Fritz, Adoption Center of WA; Margaret Casey, WA State Catholic Conference; Dini Duclos, Medina Children's Service; Laurie Lippold, Children's Home Society, Adoption Resource Center; Bill Quick, DSHS; Pat Weber, DSHS; Mark Demaray; Carol Hepburn; Dave Richardson