FINAL BILL REPORT

                                   SSB 5090

                                   C 14 L 91

                              SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

Brief Description:  Concerning foster family home licenses.

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

SENATE COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES

BACKGROUND:

Current law requires that requests for renewal of child care agency and foster family home licenses be filed with the Department of Social and Health Services no later than 90 days prior to the expiration date of the license.

However, the department frequently receives and processes otherwise acceptable applications for renewal within a shorter time frame than the statutory 90 days, in order to facilitate retention capability for qualified homes.

In a recent review of foster family care, federal auditors questioned the validity of accepting applications for renewal that are received less than 90 days prior to expiration of the original license.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Social and Health Services is provided additional statutory flexibility in accepting applications for renewal.  The time allowed for filing renewal requests is extended until the expiration of the license.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

Senate      47    0

House 95    0

EFFECTIVE:July 28, 1991