AN ACT Relating to foster care; amending RCW 74.15.040; adding new sections to chapter 74.15 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 74.14B RCW; and adding a new section to chapter 74.13 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 74.15 RCW to read as follows:

The department shall immediately establish a task force to identify the barriers to becoming a foster parent that currently exist and recommend legislative or administrative strategies to alleviate or curtail the identified barriers. The task force shall consist of eleven members as follows: (1) Six foster parents from various socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds who shall be chosen by the secretary; (2) two staff persons from the department of social and health services whose primary responsibility at the department is in the foster care area; (3) the chair of the senate children and family services committee; (4) the chair of the house of representatives human services committee; and (5) a representative from a private foster care agency. The task force shall prepare a report to the legislature on the identified barriers and suggested solutions by January 1, 1990.

Sec. 2. Section 4, chapter 172, Laws of 1967 as last amended by section 7, chapter 118, Laws of 1982 and RCW 74.15.040 are each amended to read as follows:

An agency seeking to accept and serve children, developmentally disabled persons, or expectant mothers as a foster-family home shall make application for license in such form and substance as required by the department. The department shall maintain a list of applicants through which placement may be undertaken. However, agencies and the department shall not place a child, developmentally disabled person, or expectant mother in a home until the home is licensed. The department shall not grant licenses to a person who is a homosexual or to a person with a known and verified history of engaging in sexual misconduct with a child or children. Foster-family homes shall be inspected prior to licensure, except that inspection by the department is not required if the foster-family home is under the supervision of a licensed agency upon certification to the department by the licensed agency that such homes meet the requirements for foster homes as adopted pursuant to chapter 74.15 RCW and RCW 74.13.031.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 74.13 RCW to read as follows:

Notwithstanding the confidentiality provisions of chapter 70.24 RCW, information regarding tests, diagnosis, or treatment for a sexually transmitted disease and pertaining to a child under the age of fourteen years who is in the custody of the department of social and health services or a licensed child-placing agency may be disclosed to the following persons:

(1) Employees of the department or a licensed child-placing agency who are responsible for making placement or case planning decisions or recommendations regarding the child;

(2) The child's court-appointed guardian-ad-litem, if appointed pursuant to a proceeding under chapter 13.34 RCW or a proceeding pertaining to custody of the child;

(3) Persons responsible for providing daily care for the child, when necessary for the provision of child care services; and

(4) Persons reviewing the provision of case planning, placement or child care services, when necessary for the review. Information provided pursuant to this section shall not be further disseminated or disclosed except as provided in chapter 70.24 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 74.15 RCW to read as follows:

The department shall establish a foster care rate structure which shall take into account the training, experience, and the level of participation of the foster parents in the child's case plan. The department shall ensure that the rate structure is equitably applied.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. A new section is added to chapter 74.14B RCW to read as follows:

Whenever a child is placed in out-of-home care by the department or a child-placing agency, the department or agency may consult with the child's care provider regarding the child's case plan.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. A new section is added to chapter 74.15 RCW to read as follows:

(1) The department may issue a probationary license to any foster family home for a period not to exceed six months. In its discretion, the department may extend the license for one additional six-month period.

(2) The department may terminate the probationary license for any reason at any time.