SENATE BILL REPORT

                            HB 2258

     AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES,

                       FEBRUARY 22, 1994

Brief Description:  Authorizing guardians to obtain background checks of babysitters and caretakers.

SPONSORS: Representatives Valle, Cooke, Patterson, Brown, Wineberry, King, Campbell, L. Johnson and J. Kohl

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended. 

     Signed by Senators Talmadge, Chairman; Wojahn, Vice Chairman; Deccio, Franklin, Fraser, Hargrove, McAuliffe, McDonald, Moyer, Niemi, Prentice, Quigley, L. Smith and Winsley.

Staff:  Richard Rodger (786‑7461)

Hearing Dates: February 18, 1994; February 22, 1994

BACKGROUND:

Currently, employees and volunteers of businesses or organizations which serve people with developmental disabilities, vulnerable adults or children under 16 years of age must undergo a criminal history background check with the Washington State Patrol criminal identification system.  The background check reviews the applicant's record for convictions of offenses against children or other persons, convictions for crimes relating to financial exploitation, the issuance of a protection order under Chapter 74.34 RCW, and state disciplinary board final decisions.  Babysitters and caretakers of children under age 16, of people with developmental disabilities, or of vulnerable adults are not required to submit to criminal history background checks through the Washington State Patrol.

SUMMARY:

Babysitters and caretakers for children under 16, for people with developmental disabilities, and for vulnerable adults may be required to submit to criminal history checks through the Washington State Patrol.

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED COMMITTEE AMENDMENT:

The bill is expanded to allow educational programs to request background checks when they provide students access to children, developmentally disabled people, and vulnerable adults.

DSHS is allowed to request a background check for "dependency guardians" and caretakers in "alternative residential placements."

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  none requested

TESTIMONY FOR:

This is an important bill to assist people in determining the qualification of the babysitters and caretakers which they hire.  This bill should be expanded to include educational programs that use students in home settings.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  PRO:  Representative Valle, prime sponsor; Scott Pelham, WA Assembly for Citizens with Disabilities; Julie Vernon, Green River Community College