SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SHB 1035

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

            Health & Long-Term Care, March 31, 1995

Title:  An act relating to death investigations in residential facilities operated or under control of the department of social and health services.

Brief Description:  Establishing notification and referral procedures for deaths occurring in children's residential facilities and in facilities serving developmentally disabled persons.

Sponsors:  House Committee on Children & Family Services (originally sponsored by Representatives Thibaudeau, Morris, Scott, Tokuda, Costa, Mason, Brown, Ogden, Basich, Wolfe, Patterson and Chopp).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Health & Long-Term Care:  3/24/95, 3/31/95 [DPA].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG-TERM CARE

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

  Signed by Senators Quigley, Chair; Fairley, Franklin, Winsley and Wood.

Staff:  Joanne Conrad (786-7472)

Background:  Existing law permits, but not does require, local health departments to conduct child mortality reviews.  Due to the recent deaths of several children under the care of the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), concern has arisen regarding the adequacy of child death reviews, as well as whether such reviews may be needed in situations where a developmentally disabled person has died while in the care of the department.

Summary of Amended Bill:  The Department of Health, DSHS, local health departments, coroners and medical examiners develop a consistent process for reviewing unexpected deaths of minors under certain conditions.

Amended Bill Compared to Substitute Bill:  The requirement of death investigations is eliminated and replaced with development of a process for mortality review.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on January 9, 1995.

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

Testimony For:  Deaths of children under the care of DSHS need to be investigated more effectively to prevent tragedies.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Representative Thibaudeau; Jack Williams, State Dept. of Health; Kathryn Mikesell, M.D.; Ruth Kagi; Don Knapp, Foster Parents Assoc. of WA.