H-2252.1          _______________________________________________

                            SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1745

                  _______________________________________________

State of Washington              54th Legislature             1995 Regular Session

By House Committee on Children & Family Services (originally sponsored by Representatives Stevens, Boldt, Cooke, Koster, McMahan, Lambert, Pelesky, D. Schmidt, Hargrove, Benton, Backlund and Carrell)

Read first time 03/01/95.

Requiring competency examinations for children's services caseworkers.

     AN ACT Relating to competency examinations for children's services caseworkers; amending RCW 74.14B.010; and adding a new section to chapter 74.14B RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

     Sec. 1.  RCW 74.14B.010 and 1987 c 503 s 8 are each amended to read as follows:

     Caseworkers employed in children services shall meet minimum standards established by the department of social and health services.  Comprehensive training for caseworkers shall be completed before such caseworkers are assigned to case-carrying responsibilities ((without direct supervision)). Before being assigned any cases, caseworkers shall successfully pass competency examinations designed to demonstrate the ability of the caseworker to fulfill the responsibilities of his or her position successfully.  Intermittent, part-time, and standby workers shall be subject to the same minimum standards ((and)), training, and examinations.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 74.14B RCW to read as follows:

     The competency examination required under RCW 74.14B.010 shall cover applicable state statutes, rules, and policies related to the investigation, handling, and disposition of child abuse and neglect allegations.  The department shall develop a proposed competency test and present it to the appropriate committees of the senate and house of representatives by December 1, 1995, for purposes of their review and their providing comments and advice to the department.

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