H-4913.1  _______________________________________________

                    SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 2587

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State of Washington      55th Legislature     1998 Regular Session

By House Committee on Children & Family Services (originally sponsored by Representatives Mielke, Boldt, Clements and Schoesler)

Read first time 02/05/98.  Referred to Committee on .

Regarding payment to foster parents during investigations.

    AN ACT Relating to payment to foster parents during investigations; and adding a new section to chapter 74.13 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 74.13 RCW to read as follows:

    (1) If the department investigates a therapeutic or treatment foster home for an allegation of an improper action and the child is removed from the home, the foster home shall continue to receive payment for the care of the child until the department determines if the allegation is founded or criminal charges are filed.

    (2) For the purpose of this section a "therapeutic or treatment foster home" is a licensed foster family which has been identified to care for extremely behaviorally/emotionally disturbed children who cannot function in a family home without specialized treatment and expertise.

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