SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5520

                As Passed Senate, March 9, 1995

Title:  An act relating to placement of children.

Brief Description:  Modifying placement of juveniles, specifically addressing independent living.

Sponsors:  Senators Hargrove, Long and Franklin.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Human Services & Corrections:  2/15/95, 2/21/95 [DP].

Passed Senate, 3/9/95, 45-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES & CORRECTIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Hargrove, Chair; Franklin, Vice Chair; Fairley, Kohl, Long, Moyer, Palmer, Prentice, Schow, Smith and Strannigan.

Staff:  Dennis Martin (786-7403)

Background:  In Washington State, when a court determines that a child is dependent and is ordered removed from his or her home, the agency responsible for providing services to the child shall submit a permanency plan to the court.

Title IV-E of the federal Social Security Act provides for states to include independent living as a permanency plan option.

Summary of Bill: A permanency plan may include independent living, if the child is 16 years or older. The plan must identify the services to be provided for the child's successful transition from foster care to independent living.

To approve independent living, a court must find that the transitional services will allow the child to manage his or her own affairs.

The Department of Social and Health Services may not discharge a child under 18 years of age to independent living, unless the child becomes emancipated.    

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  This legislation allows dependency plans to include independent living and specifies the requirements for this option to be included in the plan.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Jennifer Strus, DSHS (pro); Jim Whittenburg, Lobby for Social Concerns and Demand (pro).