S-4355.1  _______________________________________________

                         SENATE BILL 6522

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      53rd Legislature     1994 Regular Session

By Senators McAuliffe, Owen, Prentice and Hargrove

Read first time 01/26/94.  Referred to Committee on Health & Human Services.

Providing that persons and entities involved in adoption processes shall incur no liability.

    AN ACT Relating to adoption; and amending RCW 26.33.350 and 26.33.380.

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

    Sec. 1.  RCW 26.33.350 and 1991 c 136 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) Every person, firm, society, association, ((or)) corporation, or state agency receiving, securing a home for, or otherwise caring for a minor child shall transmit to the prospective adopting parent prior to placement and shall make available to all persons with whom a child has been placed by adoption a complete medical report containing all reasonably available information concerning the mental, physical, and sensory handicaps of the child.  The report ((shall)) need not reveal the identity of the ((natural)) birth parent of the child but shall include any reasonably available mental or physical health history of the ((natural)) birth parent that needs to be known by the adoptive parent to facilitate proper health care for the child or that will assist the adoptive parent in maximizing the developmental potential of the child.

    (2) Where reasonably available, the information provided shall include:

    (a) A review of the birth family's and the child's previous medical history, if reasonably available, including the child's x-rays, examinations, hospitalizations, and immunizations.  After July 1, 1992, medical histories shall be given on a standardized reporting form developed by the department;

    (b) A physical exam of the child by a licensed physician with appropriate laboratory tests and x-rays;

    (c) A referral to a specialist if indicated; and

    (d) A written copy of the evaluation with recommendations to the adoptive family receiving the report.

(3) Every person, firm, society, association, corporation, or state agency discharging in good faith its responsibility at any time, under this section, shall incur no liability, civil or criminal, that otherwise might result.

    Sec. 2.  RCW 26.33.380 and 1993 c 81 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:

    Every person, firm, society, association, ((or)) corporation, or state agency receiving, securing a home for, or otherwise caring for a minor child shall transmit to the prospective adopting parent prior to placement and shall make available to all persons with whom a child has been placed by adoption, a family background and child and family social history report, which includes a chronological history of the circumstances surrounding the adoptive placement and any available psychiatric reports, psychological reports, court reports pertaining to dependency or custody, or school reports.  Such reports or information shall not reveal the identity of the birth parents of the child but shall contain reasonably available nonidentifying information.  Every person, firm, society, association, corporation, or state agency discharging in good faith its responsibility at any time, under this section, shall incur no liability, civil or criminal, that otherwise might result.

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