H-3842.1          _______________________________________________

                                  HOUSE BILL 2487

                  _______________________________________________

State of Washington              54th Legislature             1996 Regular Session

By Representatives Tokuda, Buck, Veloria, Carrell, Lambert, Mason, Romero, Honeyford, Dickerson, Murray, Boldt, Hymes, Chopp, Sheldon, Costa, Conway, Cooke and Kessler

Read first time 01/11/96.  Referred to Committee on Children & Family Services.

Continuing adoption support payments.

     AN ACT Relating to continuing adoption support payments; and amending RCW 74.13.115.

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

     Sec. 1.  RCW 74.13.115 and 1985 c 7 s 137 are each amended to read as follows:

     To carry out the program authorized by RCW 26.33.320 and 74.13.100 through 74.13.145, the secretary may make continuing payments or lump sum payments of adoption support.  In lieu of continuing payments, or in addition to them, the secretary may make one or more specific lump sum payments for or on behalf of a hard to place child either to the adoptive parents or directly to other persons to assist in correcting any condition causing such child to be hard to place for adoption.

Consistent with a particular child's needs, continuing adoption support payments shall include, if necessary to facilitate or support the adoption of a special needs child, an amount equal to the department's foster care rates, including exceptional cost plans and other special needs reimbursement, up to the total monthly amount the child would be eligible for if the child were in foster care.  Exceptional cost plans are intended to enable children with severe physical or intellectual impairments and those with serious emotional or behavioral problems to succeed in a family setting rather than more costly types of care.

     After determination by the secretary of the amount of a payment or the initial amount of continuing payments, the prospective parent or parents who desire such support shall sign an agreement with the secretary providing for the payment, in the manner and at the time or times prescribed in regulations to be issued by ((him)) the secretary subject to the provisions of RCW 26.33.320 and 74.13.100 through 74.13.145, of the amount or amounts of support so determined.

     Payments shall be subject to review as provided in RCW 26.33.320 and 74.13.100 through 74.13.145.

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