1173.E AAS 4/13/95 S3028.1

1173.E AAS 4/13/95 S3028.1

EHB 1173 - S COMM AMD

By Committee on Human Services & Corrections

ADOPTED 4/13/95

Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:

"Sec. 1. RCW 74.13.118 and 1985 c 7 s 138 are each amended to read as follows:

At least ((~~annually~~)) once every five years, the secretary shall review the need of any adoptive parent or parents receiving continuing support pursuant to RCW 26.33.320 and 74.13.100 through 74.13.145, or the need of any parent who is to receive more than one lump sum payment where such payments are to be spaced more than one year apart. ((~~Such review shall be made not later than the anniversary date of the adoption support agreement.~~))

At the time of such ((~~annual~~)) review and at other times ((~~during the year~~)) when changed conditions, including variations in medical opinions, prognosis and costs, are deemed by the secretary to warrant such action, appropriate adjustments in payments shall be made based upon changes in the needs of the child, in the adoptive parents' income, resources, and expenses for the care of such child or other members of the family, including medical and/or hospitalization expense not otherwise covered by or subject to reimbursement from insurance or other sources of financial assistance.

Any parent who is a party to such an agreement may at any time in writing request, for reasons set forth in such request, a review of the amount of any payment or the level of continuing payments. Such review shall be begun not later than thirty days from the receipt of such request. Any adjustment may be made retroactive to the date such request was received by the secretary. If such request is not acted on within thirty days after it has been received by the secretary, such parent may invoke his rights under the hearing provisions set forth in RCW 74.13.127.

Sec. 2. RCW 74.13.121 and 1985 c 7 s 139 are each amended to read as follows:

So long as any adoptive parent is receiving support pursuant to RCW 26.33.320 and 74.13.100 through 74.13.145 he or she shall, ((~~not later than two weeks after it is filed with the United States government~~)) upon request, file with the secretary a copy of his or her federal income tax return. Such return and any information thereon shall be marked by the secretary "confidential", shall be used by the secretary solely for the purposes of RCW 26.33.320 and 74.13.100 through 74.13.145, and shall not be revealed to any other person, institution or agency, public or private, including agencies of the United States government, other than a superior court, judge or commissioner before whom a petition for adoption of a child being supported or to be supported pursuant to RCW 26.33.320 and 74.13.100 through 74.13.145 is then pending.

In carrying on the review process authorized by RCW 26.33.320 and 74.13.100 through 74.13.145 the secretary may require the adoptive parent or parents to disclose such additional financial information, not privileged, as may enable him or her to make determinations and adjustments in support to the end that the purposes and policies of this state expressed in RCW 74.13.100 may be carried out, provided that no adoptive parent or parents shall be obliged, by virtue of this section, to sign any agreement or other writing waiving any constitutional right or privilege nor to admit to his or her home any agent, employee, or official of any department of this state, or of the United States government.

Such information shall be marked "confidential" by the secretary, shall be used by him or her solely for the purposes of RCW 26.33.320 and 74.13.100 through 74.13.145, and shall not be revealed to any other person, institution, or agency, public or private, including agencies of the United States government other than a superior court judge or commission before whom a petition for adoption of a child being supported or to be supported pursuant to RCW 26.33.320 and 74.13.100 through 74.13.145 is then pending.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. The legislature recognizes that some prospective adoptive parents may not have finalized the adoption of a foster child in their care because the adoption support program as it is presently structured may offer special children with complex needs fewer necessary services than the foster care program provides them through exceptional cost plans. Enhancement of the adoption support program could increase the likelihood that such special needs children could be adopted.

The department of social and health services is directed to conduct a study to determine the costs, program impact, and appropriateness of extending exceptional cost rate foster care plans for special needs children to the adoption support program. The department of social and health services shall complete the study and report its findings to the legislature no later than September 1, 1995."

EHB 1173 - S COMM AMD

By Committee on Human Services & Corrections

ADOPTED 4/13/95

On page 1, line 1 of the title, after "support;" strike the remainder of the title and insert "amending RCW 74.13.118 and 74.13.121; and creating a new section."