HOUSE BILL REPORT

                     SSB 5090

                           As Passed Legislature

Title:  An act relating to foster family home licenses.

Brief Description:  Concerning foster family home licenses.

Sponsor(s):  Senate Committee on Children & Family Services (originally sponsored by Senators Roach and Stratton; by request of Dept. of Social & Health Services).

Brief History:

   Reported by House Committee on:

Human Services, March 28, 1991, DP;

Passed House, April 8, 1991, 95-0;

Passed Legislature, 95-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

HUMAN SERVICES

Majority Report: Do pass.  Signed by 11 members:  Representatives Leonard, Chair; Riley, Vice Chair; Winsley, Ranking Minority Member; Tate, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Anderson; Beck; Brekke; Hargrove; Hochstatter; R. King; and H. Myers.

Staff:  David Knutson (786-7146).

Background:  State statute requires that a request for the renewal of a child care agency license is filed 90 days prior to the expiration date of the license.  Pursuant to the statute, an application for renewal received fewer than 90 days prior to the expiration is not, strictly speaking, a valid application.

The Department of Social and Health Services does however, accept applications for the renewal of foster family home licenses fewer than 90 days prior to the expiration of the original license.

Federal auditors reviewing the foster family care program have questioned the validity of the applications and foster home licenses where the applications for renewal have been received fewer than 90 days prior to the expiration of the original license.

Summary of Bill:  A foster family home licensee may apply for a renewal any time prior to the expiration date of the current license.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  There is a need to codify the existing practice of the Department of Social and Health Services, which accepts license renewal applications from foster family homes up to the date of the expiration of the existing license.  This is due to a $250,000 penalty placed upon the department for noncompliance with the present statute which requires applications to be submitted 90 days prior to the expiration date of the existing license.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Karen Tvedt, Department of Social and Health Services.