HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2766

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                       Human Services

Title:  An act relating to children.

Brief Description:  Eliminating authority of law enforcement officers to release runaway children to other responsible adults.

Sponsors:  Representatives Lemmon, Conway, Morris, Cooke, Orr, Patterson, Long, Kessler, Thibaudeau, Linville, Moak, Rayburn, Karahalios and Johanson.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Human Services, February 3, 1994, DPS.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 10 members:  Representatives Leonard, Chair; Thibaudeau, Vice Chair; Cooke, Ranking Minority Member; Talcott, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Brown; Caver; Karahalios; Lisk; Padden and Patterson.

Staff:  Dave Knutson (786-7146).

Background:  When a child runs away from home, law enforcement officers are required by statute to pick up the child and either return the child home, take the child to a crisis residential center, or take the child to the home of a responsible adult.  Law enforcement officers have a difficult time returning children home when they are illegally harbored by adults.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  Law enforcement officers will pick up runaways and either return them to their parent or guardian, take them to a crisis residential center or take them to a responsible adult after parental notification. 

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  Responsible adults will be able to receive runaways after parent notification.  Law enforcement officers will remove a child from an adult illegally harboring the child and return the child home.  The crime of illegally harboring a child is increased from a misdemeanor to a gross misdemeanor.  The department will maintain a toll free hotline to assist parents of runaways.  The criminal justice training commission will ensure law enforcement agencies will accurately describe juvenile runaway statutes.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  Law enforcement officers need clearer direction on when to pick up runaways and where to take them.  Penalties for illegally harboring a minor are increased.

Testimony Against:  Law enforcement officers should not return runaways home if the runaway does not want to return home.

Witnesses:  Liz Dalton, Department of Social and Health Services (con); Denise Dickinson (pro); Margaret Casey, Washington State Catholic Conference (con); and Greg Gooch, Toughlove Northwest (pro).