S-3912.1 _______________________________________________
SENATE BILL 6589
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State of Washington 53rd Legislature 1994 Regular Session
By Senators Hargrove, Anderson, L. Smith, Erwin, Nelson, Vognild, Hochstatter, Roach and Oke
Read first time 02/02/94. Referred to Committee on Health & Human Services.
AN ACT Relating to adoption; amending RCW 26.33.140; and adding a new section to chapter 26.33 RCW.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
Sec. 1. RCW 26.33.140 and 1984 c 155 s 14 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) Any person may be adopted, regardless of his or her age or residence.
(2) Any person who is legally competent and who is eighteen years of age or older may be an adoptive parent.
(3) An application for adoption creates no presumption that an adoptive placement will be made. All adoptive placements shall be made based on the best interest of the child.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 26.33 RCW to read as follows:
Adoptive child placing agencies shall give consideration to the child's racial, ethnic, cultural, and religious heritage, natural family group, and, to the greatest extent possible, the wishes of the natural parent in making the adoptive placement. Preference shall be given to a child's relatives and to keeping siblings together unless that is not in the best interest of the child.
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