Passed by the Senate April 25, 1991

Yeas 38 Nays 0

President of the Senate

Passed by the House April 19, 1991

Yeas 98 Nays 0

Speaker of the

House of Representatives

Approved

Governor of the State of Washington

CERTIFICATE

I, Gordon Golob, Secretary of the Senate of the State of Washington, do hereby certify that the attached is SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5916 as passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives on the dates hereon set forth.

Secretary

FILED

Secretary of State

State of Washington

AN ACT Relating to the department of social and health services; amending RCW 13.34.110 and 74.13.280; adding a new section to chapter 74.13 RCW; creating a new section; and declaring an emergency.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. It is the intent of the legislature to provide timely, thorough, and fair procedures for resolution of grievances of clients, foster parents, and the community resulting from decisions made by the department of social and health services related to programs administered pursuant to this chapter. Grievances should be resolved at the lowest level possible. However, all levels of the department should be accountable and responsible to individuals who are experiencing difficulties with agency services or decisions. It is the intent of the legislature that grievance procedures be made available to individuals who do not have other remedies available through judicial review or adjudicative proceedings.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 74.13 RCW to read as follows:

The department shall develop and implement an informal, nonadversarial complaint resolution process to be used by clients of the department, foster parents, and other affected individuals who have complaints regarding a department policy or procedure, or the application of such a policy or procedure, related to programs administered under this chapter. The process shall not apply in circumstances where the complainant has the right under Title 13, 26, or 74 RCW to seek resolution of the complaint through judicial review or through an adjudicative proceeding.

Nothing in this section shall be construed to create substantive or procedural rights in any person. Participation in the complaint resolution process shall not entitle any person to an adjudicative proceeding under chapter 34.05 RCW or to superior court review. Participation in the process shall not affect the right of any person to seek other statutorily or constitutionally permitted remedies.

The department shall develop procedures to assure that clients and foster parents are informed of the availability of the complaint resolution process and how to access it. The department shall incorporate information regarding the complaint resolution process into the training for foster parents and caseworkers.

The department shall compile complaint resolution data including the nature of the complaint and the outcome of the process. The department shall submit semi-annual reports, due January and July of each year, beginning July 1992, to the senate children and family services committee and the house of representatives human services committee.

Sec. 3. RCW 13.34.110 and 1983 c 311 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:

The court shall hold a fact-finding hearing on the petition and, unless the court dismisses the petition, shall make written findings of fact, stating the reasons therefor, and after it has announced its findings of fact shall hold a hearing to consider disposition of the case immediately following the fact-finding hearing or at a continued hearing within fourteen days or longer for good cause shown. The parties need not appear at the fact-finding or dispositional hearing if all are in agreement; but the court shall receive and review a social study before entering an order based on agreement. No social file or social study may be considered by the court in connection with the fact-finding hearing or prior to factual determination, except as otherwise admissible under the rules of evidence. Notice of the time and place of the continued hearing may be given in open court. If notice in open court is not given to a party, that party shall be notified by mail of the time and place of any continued hearing.

All hearings may be conducted at any time or place within the limits of the county, and such cases may not be heard in conjunction with other business of any other division of the superior court. The general public shall be excluded, and only such persons may be admitted who are found by the judge to have a direct interest in the case or in the work of the court. If a child resides in foster care or in the home of a relative pursuant to a disposition order entered under RCW 13.34.130, the court may allow the child's foster parent or relative care provider to attend dependency review proceedings pertaining to the child for the sole purpose of providing information about the child to the court.

Stenographic notes or any device which accurately records the proceedings may be required as provided in other civil cases pursuant to RCW 2.32.200.

Sec. 4. RCW 74.13.280 and 1990 c 284 s 10 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Except as provided in RCW 70.24.105, whenever a child is placed in out-of-home care by the department or a child-placing agency, the department or agency may share information about the child and the child's family with the care provider and may consult with the care provider regarding the child's case plan. If the child is dependent pursuant to a proceeding under chapter 13.34 RCW, the department or agency shall keep the care provider informed regarding the dates and location of dependency review hearings pertaining to the child.

(2) Any person who receives information about a child or a child's family pursuant to this section shall keep the information confidential and shall not further disclose or disseminate the information except as authorized by law.

(3) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the authority of the department or child-placing agencies to disclose client information or to maintain client confidentiality as provided by law.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately.