HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1693

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                       Human Services

Title:  An act relating to foster parents.

Brief Description:  Authorizing issuance of credit cards to foster parents for expenses relating to care and support of foster children.

Sponsors:  Representatives Thibaudeau, Leonard and King.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Human Services, March 1, 1993, DPS.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 9 members:  Representatives Leonard, Chair; Riley, Vice Chair; Cooke, Ranking Minority Member; Talcott, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Brown; Karahalios; Patterson; Thibaudeau; and Wolfe.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  Signed by 2 members:  Representatives Lisk; and Padden.

Staff:  David Knutson (786-7146).

Background:  Foster parents often receive short notice that a child will be placed in their care.  Many times, a foster child will arrive at a foster home with only the clothes on their back.  Foster parents are often forced to spend their own money to purchase clothes, toiletries and related personal items for foster children, then wait for extended periods before the Department of Social and Health Services reimburses them.  This places an additional financial burden on foster parents.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  The Department of Social and Health Services will provide foster parents with prospective reimbursement for expenses occurred when caring for foster children.  The department is free to select the most appropriate method to achieve this objective.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The requirement that the Department of Social and Health Services issue credit cards to foster parents is replaced with a requirement that the department select the most appropriate method to provide prospective reimbursement to foster parents.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  Foster parents shouldn't have to use their own money or charge expenses for foster children and wait for extended periods to be reimbursed by the Department of Social and Health Services.

Testimony Against:  The Legislature shouldn't tell the Department of Social and Health Services which financial method to use in addressing this problem with foster parents.

Witnesses:  (Pro) Darlene Flowers, Foster Parents Association of Washington State; Laurie Lippold, Children's Home Society; (con) and Gerard Sidorowicz, Department of Social and Health Services.