SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SSB 6245

              As Passed Senate, February 7, 1996

Title:  An act relating to child death investigations.

Brief Description:  Requiring child death investigations and reports.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Health & Long‑Term Care (originally sponsored by Senators Thibaudeau, Prentice, Goings, Wood, Sheldon, Winsley, Quigley, Wojahn, Smith, Fraser, Moyer, Franklin, McAuliffe, Deccio and Rasmussen).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Health & Long-Term Care:  1/23/96, 1/25/96 [DPS].

Passed Senate, 2/7/96, 46-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG-TERM CARE

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6245 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

  Signed by Senators Wojahn, Vice Chair; Deccio, Fairley, Franklin, Moyer, Thibaudeau, Winsley and Wood.

Staff:  Joanne Conrad (786-7472)

Background:  In 1995, the Legislature passed SHB 1035, requiring the Department of Health and the Department of Social and Health Services, along with coroners, medical examiners and others, to develop a process for consistent review of the unexpected deaths of minors in the care of DSHS.  The group made a report to the Legislature in December, 1995.  This bill represents the recommendations arising from that report.

Summary of Bill:  DSHS Regional Administrators perform fact-finding, in the event of unexpected deaths of minors in the care of DSHS.  After receiving the results of the fact-finding, a multidisciplinary community child death review team convenes to review the death.  Results of these reviews are provided in an annual joint report to the Legislature.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on January 10, 1996.

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

Testimony For:  Better quality investigation of unexpected, unexplained child deaths is needed.  Citizen input is important, including participation by foster caregivers.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Senator Thibaudeau, prime sponsor; Don Knapp, Foster Parents Assn.; Rita Schmidt, Department of Health; Jackie Der, UW Medical Center; Ruth Kagy, Lauria Grace Fatality Review Team.