SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SHB 1860

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

          Human Services & Corrections, April 3, 1997

Title:  An act relating to adoption.

Brief Description:  Requiring full disclosure of medical and psychological history to prospective adopting parents.

Sponsors:  House Committee on Children & Family Services (originally sponsored by Representatives Cooke, Dickerson, Boldt, McDonald, Regala, Costa, Mason, Anderson, Kessler and Ogden).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Human Services & Corrections:  3/25/97, 4/3/97 [DPA].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES & CORRECTIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

  Signed by Senators Long, Chair; Zarelli, Vice Chair; Franklin, Hargrove, Kohl, Schow and Stevens.

Staff:  Richard Rodger (786-7461)

Background:  Individuals, agencies, and organizations that place children for adoption are required to give prospective adoptive parents a complete medical report covering the mental, physical, and sensory handicaps of the child.  Some adoptive parents are not provided critical information needed to make an informed decision before receiving a child for adoption.

Summary of Amended Bill:  Individuals, agencies, and organizations that place children for adoption must provide prospective adopting parents complete medical information on the child=s condition.  A person is considered a prospective adopting parent no later than when the birth parents= rights are terminated and preplacement reports have been approved.  Every person who provides information must sign a sworn statement acknowledging they have provided Aall known and available information.@

Amended Bill Compared to Substitute Bill:  Information is not required to be provided at the time of physical placement.  The definition of Aprospective adopting parent@ is modified.  A requirement of a sworn statement is added in the amendment.  The emergency clause is removed.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  Prospective adopting parents need all available medical information on a child before the child is placed in the home.

Testimony Against:  Requiring information to be provided prior to Aphysical placement@ will cause problems.  The children are sometimes placed with foster parents who later decide to adopt the children.  The definition of Aprospective adopting parent@ in the House version would allow a sex offender to obtain information about children who may be placed for adoption.

Testified:  Rep. Cooke, prime sponsor; Vicky McKinney, Jocie DeVries, Ann Waller, parents (pro); Jennifer Strus.