AN
ACT Relating to dependent children; and amending RCW 13.34.050, 13.34.060,
13.34.090, 13.34.120, 26.44.030, and 43.20A.870.
BE IT
ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
Sec.
1. RCW
13.34.050 and 1979 c 155 s 38 are each amended to read as follows:
(1)
The court may enter an order directing a law enforcement officer, probation
counselor, or child protective services official to take a child into custody
if: (a) A petition is filed with the juvenile court alleging that the
child is dependent and that the child's health, safety, and welfare will be
seriously endangered if not taken into custody; (b) an affidavit or declaration
is filed by the department in support of the petition setting forth specific
factual information evidencing reasonable grounds that the child's health,
safety, and welfare will be seriously endangered if not taken into custody and
at least one of the grounds set forth demonstrates a risk of imminent harm to
the child. "Imminent harm" for purposes of this section shall
include, but not be limited to, circumstances of sexual abuse, or sexual
exploitation as defined in RCW 26.44.020; and (c) the court finds
reasonable grounds to believe the child is dependent and that the child's
health, safety, and welfare will be seriously endangered if not taken into
custody.
(2)
Any petition that does not have the necessary affidavit or declaration
demonstrating a risk of imminent harm requires notice and an opportunity to be
heard by the parents.
(3)
The petition and supporting documentation must be served on the parent and the
entity with whom the child is in custody at the time the child is removed.
Failure to effect service does not invalidate the petition if service was
attempted and the parent could not be found.
Sec.
2. RCW
13.34.060 and 1990 c 246 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
(1)
A child taken into custody pursuant to RCW 13.34.050 or 26.44.050 shall be
immediately placed in shelter care. A child taken by a relative of the child
in violation of RCW 9A.40.060 or 9A.40.070 shall be placed in shelter care only
when permitted under RCW 13.34.055. "Shelter care" means temporary
physical care in a facility licensed pursuant to RCW 74.15.030 or in a home not
required to be licensed pursuant to that section. Whenever a child is taken
into such custody pursuant to this section, the supervising agency may
authorize evaluations of the child's physical or emotional condition, routine
medical and dental examination and care, and all necessary emergency care. In
no case may a child who is taken into custody pursuant to RCW 13.34.055,
13.34.050, or 26.44.050 be detained in a secure detention facility. No child
may be held longer than seventy-two hours, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and
holidays, after such child is taken into custody unless a court order has been
entered for continued shelter care. The child and his or her parent, guardian,
or custodian shall be informed that they have a right to a shelter care
hearing. The court shall hold a shelter care hearing within seventy-two hours
after the child is taken into custody, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and
holidays. If a parent, guardian, or legal custodian desires to waive the
shelter care hearing, the court shall determine, on the record and with the
parties present, that such waiver is knowing and voluntary.
(2)
Whenever a child is taken into custody by child protective services pursuant to
a court order issued under RCW 13.34.050 or when child protective services is
notified that a child has been taken into custody pursuant to RCW 26.44.050 or
26.44.056, child protective services shall make reasonable efforts to inform
the parents, guardian, or legal custodian of the fact that the child has been
taken into custody, the reasons why the child was taken into custody, and their
legal rights under this title as soon as possible and in no event longer than
twenty-four hours after the child has been taken into custody or twenty-four
hours after child protective services has been notified that the child has been
taken into custody. The notice of custody and rights may be given by any means
reasonably certain of notifying the parents including, but not limited to,
written, telephone, or in person oral notification. If the initial
notification is provided by a means other than writing, child protective
services shall make reasonable efforts to also provide written notification.
The
written notice of custody and rights shall be in substantially the following
form:
"NOTICE
Your
child has been placed in temporary custody under the supervision of Child
Protective Services (or other person or agency). You have important legal
rights and you must take steps to protect your interests.
1. A
court hearing will be held before a judge within 72 hours of the time your
child is taken into custody. You should call the court at (insert
appropriate phone number here) for
specific information about the date, time, and location of the court hearing.
2.
You have the right to have a lawyer represent you at the hearing. You have
the right to records the department intends to rely upon. A lawyer can
look at the files in your case, talk to child protective services and other
agencies, tell you about the law, help you understand your rights, and help you
at hearings. If you cannot afford a lawyer, the court will appoint one to
represent you. To get a court-appointed lawyer you must contact: (explain
local procedure) .
3.
At the hearing, you have the right to speak on your own behalf, to introduce
evidence, to examine witnesses, and to receive a decision based solely on the
evidence presented to the judge.
You
should be present at this hearing. If you do not come, the judge will not hear
what you have to say.
You
may call the Child Protective Services' caseworker for more information about
your child. The caseworker's name and telephone number are: (insert
name and telephone number) ."
Upon
receipt of the written notice, the parent, guardian, or legal custodian shall acknowledge
such notice by signing a receipt prepared by child protective services. If the
parent, guardian, or legal custodian does not sign the receipt, the reason for
lack of a signature shall be written on the receipt. The receipt shall be made
a part of the court's file in the dependency action.
If
after making reasonable efforts to provide notification, child protective
services is unable to determine the whereabouts of the parents, guardian, or
legal custodian, the notice shall be delivered or sent to the last known
address of the parent, guardian, or legal custodian.
(3) If
child protective services is not required to give notice under subsection (2)
of this section, the juvenile court counselor assigned to the matter shall make
all reasonable efforts to advise the parents, guardian, or legal custodian of
the time and place of any shelter care hearing, request that they be present,
and inform them of their basic rights as provided in RCW 13.34.090.
(4)
Reasonable efforts to advise and to give notice, as required in subsections (2)
and (3) of this section, shall include, at a minimum, investigation of the
whereabouts of the parent, guardian, or legal custodian. If such reasonable
efforts are not successful, or the parent, guardian, or legal custodian does
not appear at the shelter care hearing, the juvenile court counselor or
caseworker shall testify at the hearing or state in a declaration:
(a) The
efforts made to investigate the whereabouts of, and to advise, the parent,
guardian, or legal custodian; and
(b)
Whether actual advice of rights was made, to whom it was made, and how it was
made, including the substance of any oral communication or copies of written
materials used.
(5) At
the commencement of the shelter care hearing the court shall advise the parties
of their basic rights as provided in RCW 13.34.090 and shall appoint counsel
pursuant to RCW 13.34.090 if counsel has not been retained by the parent or
guardian and if the parent or guardian is indigent, unless the court finds that
the right to counsel has been expressly and voluntarily waived in court.
(6) The
court shall hear evidence regarding notice given to, and efforts to notify, the
parent, guardian, or legal custodian and shall examine the need for shelter
care. The court shall make an express finding as to whether the notice
required under subsections (2) and (3) of this section was given to the parent,
guardian, or legal custodian. All parties have the right to present testimony
to the court regarding the need or lack of need for shelter care. Hearsay
evidence before the court regarding the need or lack of need for shelter care
must be supported by sworn testimony, affidavit, or declaration of the person
offering such evidence.
(7) The
juvenile court probation counselor shall submit a recommendation to the court
as to the further need for shelter care, except that such recommendation shall
be submitted by the department of social and health services in cases where the
petition alleging dependency has been filed by the department of social and
health services, unless otherwise ordered by the court.
(8) The
court shall release a child alleged to be dependent to the care, custody, and
control of the child's parent, guardian, or legal custodian unless the court
finds there is reasonable cause to believe that:
(a)
After consideration of the specific services that have been provided,
reasonable efforts have been made to prevent or eliminate the need for removal
of the child from the child's home and to make it possible for the child to
return home; and
(b)(i)
The child has no parent, guardian, or legal custodian to provide supervision
and care for such child; or
(ii)
The release of such child would present a serious threat of substantial harm to
such child; or
(iii)
The parent, guardian, or custodian to whom the child could be released is
alleged to have violated RCW 9A.40.060 or 9A.40.070.
If the
court does not release the child to his or her parent, guardian, or legal
custodian, the court shall order continued shelter care or order placement with
another suitable person, and the court shall set forth its reasons for the
order. The court shall enter a finding as to whether subsections (2) and (3)
of this section have been complied with. If actual notice was not given to the
parent, guardian, or legal custodian and the whereabouts of such person is
known or can be ascertained, the court shall order the supervising agency or the
department of social and health services to make reasonable efforts to advise
the parent, guardian, or legal custodian of the status of the case, including
the date and time of any subsequent hearings, and their rights under RCW
13.34.090.
(9) An
order releasing the child on any conditions specified in this section may at
any time be amended, with notice and hearing thereon, so as to return the child
to shelter care for failure of the parties to conform to the conditions
originally imposed.
The
court shall consider whether nonconformance with any conditions resulted from
circumstances beyond the control of the parent and give weight to that fact
before ordering return of the child to shelter care.
(10) A
shelter care order issued pursuant to this section may be amended at any time
with notice and hearing thereon. The shelter care decision of placement shall
be modified only upon a showing of change in circumstances. No child may be
detained for longer than thirty days without an order, signed by the judge,
authorizing continued shelter care.
(11)
Any parent, guardian, or legal custodian who for good cause is unable to attend
the initial shelter care hearing may request that a subsequent shelter care
hearing be scheduled. The request shall be made to the clerk of the court
where the petition is filed prior to the initial shelter care hearing. The
hearing shall be held within seventy-two hours of the request, excluding
Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. The clerk shall notify all other parties of
the hearing by any reasonable means.
Sec.
3. RCW
13.34.090 and 1990 c 246 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:
(1)
Any party has a right to be represented by an attorney in all proceedings under
this chapter, to introduce evidence, to be heard in his or her own behalf, to
examine witnesses, to receive a decision based solely on the evidence adduced
at the hearing, and to an unbiased fact-finder.
(2)
At all stages of a proceeding in which a child is alleged to be dependent ((pursuant
to)) as defined in RCW 13.34.030(((2))) (4), the
child's parent, guardian, or legal custodian has the right to be represented by
counsel, and if indigent, to have counsel appointed for him or her by the
court. Unless waived in court, counsel shall be provided to the child's
parent, guardian, or legal custodian, if such person (a) has appeared in the
proceeding or requested the court to appoint counsel and (b) is financially
unable to obtain counsel because of indigency as defined in chapter 10.101 RCW.
(3)
If a party to an action under this chapter is represented by counsel, no order
shall be provided to that party for his or her signature without prior notice
and provision of the order to counsel.
(4)
Copies of department of social and health services or supervising agency
records to which parents have legal access pursuant to chapter 13.50 RCW shall
be given to the child's parent, guardian, legal custodian, or his or her legal
counsel, prior to any shelter care hearing and within ((twenty)) fifteen
days after the department or supervising agency receives a written request for
such records from the parent, guardian, legal custodian, or his or her legal
counsel. These records shall be provided to the child's parents, guardian,
legal custodian, or legal counsel a reasonable period of time prior to
the shelter care hearing in order to allow an opportunity to review the records
prior to the hearing. These records shall be legible and shall be provided at
no expense to the parents, guardian, legal custodian, or his or her counsel. When
the records are served on legal counsel, legal counsel shall have the
opportunity to review the records with the parents and shall review the records
with the parents prior to the shelter care hearing.
Sec.
4. RCW
13.34.120 and 1996 c 249 s 14 are each amended to read as follows:
(1)
To aid the court in its decision on disposition, a social study, consisting of
a written evaluation of matters relevant to the disposition of the case, shall
be made by the person or agency filing the petition. A parent may submit a
counselor's or health care provider's evaluation of the parent, which shall
either be included in the social study or considered in conjunction with the
social study. The study shall include all social records and may also
include facts relating to the child's cultural heritage, and shall be made
available to the court. The court shall consider the social file, social
study, guardian ad litem report, the court-appointed special advocate's report,
if any, and any reports filed by a party at the disposition hearing in addition
to evidence produced at the fact-finding hearing. At least ten working days
before the disposition hearing, the department shall mail to the parent and his
or her attorney a copy of the agency's social study and proposed service plan,
which shall be in writing or in a form understandable to the parents or
custodians. In addition, the department shall provide an opportunity for
parents to review and comment on the plan at the community service office. If
the parents disagree with the agency's plan or any part thereof, the parents
shall submit to the court at least twenty-four hours before the hearing, in
writing, or signed oral statement, an alternative plan to correct the problems
which led to the finding of dependency. This section shall not interfere with
the right of the parents or custodians to submit oral arguments regarding the
disposition plan at the hearing.
(2)
In addition to the requirements set forth in subsection (1) of this section, a
predisposition study to the court in cases of dependency alleged pursuant to
RCW 13.34.030(4) (b) or (c) shall contain the following information:
(a)
A statement of the specific harm or harms to the child that intervention is
designed to alleviate;
(b)
A description of the specific programs, for both the parents and child, that
are needed in order to prevent serious harm to the child; the reasons why such
programs are likely to be useful; the availability of any proposed services;
and the agency's overall plan for ensuring that the services will be delivered.
The description shall identify services chosen and approved by the parent;
(c)
If removal is recommended, a full description of the reasons why the child
cannot be protected adequately in the home, including a description of any
previous efforts to work with the parents and the child in the home; the
in-home treatment programs which have been considered and rejected; the
preventive services that have been offered or provided and have failed to prevent
the need for out-of-home placement, unless the health, safety, and welfare of
the child cannot be protected adequately in the home; and the parents' attitude
toward placement of the child;
(d)
A statement of the likely harms the child will suffer as a result of removal.
This section should include an exploration of the nature of the parent-child
attachment and the meaning of separation and loss to both the parents and the
child;
(e)
A description of the steps that will be taken to minimize harm to the child
that may result if separation occurs; and
(f)
Behavior that will be expected before determination that supervision of the
family or placement is no longer necessary.
Sec.
5. RCW
26.44.030 and 1997 c 386 s 25 are each amended to read as follows:
(1)(a)
When any practitioner, county coroner or medical examiner, law enforcement
officer, professional school personnel, registered or licensed nurse, social
service counselor, psychologist, pharmacist, licensed or certified child care
providers or their employees, employee of the department, juvenile probation
officer, or state family and children's ombudsman or any volunteer in the
ombudsman's office has reasonable cause to believe that a child or adult
dependent or developmentally disabled person, has suffered abuse or neglect, he
or she shall report such incident, or cause a report to be made, to the proper
law enforcement agency or to the department as provided in RCW 26.44.040.
(b)
The reporting requirement shall also apply to department of corrections
personnel who, in the course of their employment, observe offenders or the
children with whom the offenders are in contact. If, as a result of
observations or information received in the course of his or her employment, any
department of corrections personnel has reasonable cause to believe that a
child or adult dependent or developmentally disabled person has suffered abuse
or neglect, he or she shall report the incident, or cause a report to be made,
to the proper law enforcement agency or to the department as provided in RCW
26.44.040.
(c)
The reporting requirement shall also apply to any adult who has reasonable
cause to believe that a child or adult dependent or developmentally disabled
person, who resides with them, has suffered severe abuse, and is able or
capable of making a report. For the purposes of this subsection, "severe
abuse" means any of the following: Any single act of abuse that causes
physical trauma of sufficient severity that, if left untreated, could cause
death; any single act of sexual abuse that causes significant bleeding, deep
bruising, or significant external or internal swelling; or more than one act of
physical abuse, each of which causes bleeding, deep bruising, significant
external or internal swelling, bone fracture, or unconsciousness.
(d)
The report shall be made at the first opportunity, but in no case longer than
forty-eight hours after there is reasonable cause to believe that the child or
adult has suffered abuse or neglect. The report shall include the identity of
the accused if known.
(2)
The reporting requirement of subsection (1) of this section does not apply to
the discovery of abuse or neglect that occurred during childhood if it is
discovered after the child has become an adult. However, if there is
reasonable cause to believe other children, dependent adults, or
developmentally disabled persons are or may be at risk of abuse or neglect by
the accused, the reporting requirement of subsection (1) of this section shall
apply.
(3)
Any other person who has reasonable cause to believe that a child or adult
dependent or developmentally disabled person has suffered abuse or neglect may
report such incident to the proper law enforcement agency or to the department
of social and health services as provided in RCW 26.44.040.
(4)
The department, upon receiving a report of an incident of alleged abuse or
neglect pursuant to this chapter, involving a child or adult dependent or
developmentally disabled person who has died or has had physical injury or
injuries inflicted upon him or her other than by accidental means or who has
been subjected to alleged sexual abuse, shall report such incident to the
proper law enforcement agency. In emergency cases, where the child, adult
dependent, or developmentally disabled person's welfare is endangered, the
department shall notify the proper law enforcement agency within twenty-four
hours after a report is received by the department. In all other cases, the
department shall notify the law enforcement agency within seventy-two hours
after a report is received by the department. If the department makes an oral
report, a written report shall also be made to the proper law enforcement
agency within five days thereafter.
(5)
Any law enforcement agency receiving a report of an incident of alleged abuse
or neglect pursuant to this chapter, involving a child or adult dependent or
developmentally disabled person who has died or has had physical injury or
injuries inflicted upon him or her other than by accidental means, or who has
been subjected to alleged sexual abuse, shall report such incident in writing
as provided in RCW 26.44.040 to the proper county prosecutor or city attorney
for appropriate action whenever the law enforcement agency's investigation reveals
that a crime may have been committed. The law enforcement agency shall also
notify the department of all reports received and the law enforcement agency's
disposition of them. In emergency cases, where the child, adult dependent, or
developmentally disabled person's welfare is endangered, the law enforcement
agency shall notify the department within twenty-four hours. In all other
cases, the law enforcement agency shall notify the department within
seventy-two hours after a report is received by the law enforcement agency.
(6)
Any county prosecutor or city attorney receiving a report under subsection (5)
of this section shall notify the victim, any persons the victim requests, and
the local office of the department, of the decision to charge or decline to
charge a crime, within five days of making the decision.
(7)
The department may conduct ongoing case planning and consultation with those
persons or agencies required to report under this section, with consultants
designated by the department, and with designated representatives of Washington
Indian tribes if the client information exchanged is pertinent to cases
currently receiving child protective services or department case services for
the developmentally disabled. Upon request, the department shall conduct such
planning and consultation with those persons required to report under this
section if the department determines it is in the best interests of the child
or developmentally disabled person. Information considered privileged by statute
and not directly related to reports required by this section shall not be
divulged without a valid written waiver of the privilege.
(8)
Any case referred to the department by a physician licensed under chapter 18.57
or 18.71 RCW on the basis of an expert medical opinion that child abuse,
neglect, or sexual assault has occurred and that the child's safety will be
seriously endangered if returned home, the department shall file a dependency
petition unless a second licensed physician of the parents' choice believes
that such expert medical opinion is incorrect. If the parents fail to
designate a second physician, the department may make the selection. If a
physician finds that a child has suffered abuse or neglect but that such abuse
or neglect does not constitute imminent danger to the child's health or safety,
and the department agrees with the physician's assessment, the child may be
left in the parents' home while the department proceeds with reasonable efforts
to remedy parenting deficiencies.
(9)
Persons or agencies exchanging information under subsection (7) of this section
shall not further disseminate or release the information except as authorized
by state or federal statute. Violation of this subsection is a misdemeanor.
(10)
Upon receiving reports of alleged abuse or neglect, the department or law
enforcement agency may interview children. The interviews may be conducted on
school premises, at day-care facilities, at the child's home, or at other
suitable locations outside of the presence of parents. Parental notification
of the interview shall occur at the earliest possible point in the
investigation that will not jeopardize the safety or protection of the child or
the course of the investigation. Prior to commencing the interview the department
or law enforcement agency shall determine whether the child wishes a third
party to be present for the interview and, if so, shall make reasonable efforts
to accommodate the child's wishes. Unless the child objects, the department or
law enforcement agency shall make reasonable efforts to include a third party
in any interview so long as the presence of the third party will not jeopardize
the course of the investigation.
(11)
Upon receiving a report of alleged child abuse and neglect, the department or
investigating law enforcement agency shall have access to all relevant records
of the child in the possession of mandated reporters and their employees.
(12)
The department shall maintain investigation records and conduct timely and
periodic reviews of all cases constituting abuse and neglect. The department
shall maintain a log of screened-out nonabusive cases.
(13)
The department shall use a risk assessment process when investigating alleged
child abuse and neglect referrals. The department shall present the risk
factors at all hearings in which the placement of a dependent child is an
issue. Substance abuse must be a risk factor. The department shall,
within funds appropriated for this purpose, offer enhanced community-based
services to persons who are determined not to require further state
intervention.
The
department shall provide annual reports to the legislature on the effectiveness
of the risk assessment process.
(14)
Upon receipt of a report of alleged abuse or neglect the law enforcement agency
may arrange to interview the person making the report and any collateral
sources to determine if any malice is involved in the reporting.
(15)
The department shall make reasonable efforts to learn the name, address, and
telephone number of each person making a report of abuse or neglect under this
section. The department shall provide assurances of appropriate
confidentiality of the identification of persons reporting under this section.
If the department is unable to learn the information required under this
subsection, the department shall only investigate cases in which: (a) The
department believes there is a serious threat of substantial harm to the child;
(b) the report indicates conduct involving a criminal offense that has, or is
about to occur, in which the child is the victim; or (c) the department has,
after investigation, a report of abuse or neglect that has been founded with
regard to a member of the household within three years of receipt of the
referral.
*Sec.
6.
RCW 43.20A.870 and 1997 c 386 s 47 are each amended to read as follows:
(1)
The department shall prepare an annual quality assurance report that shall
include but is not limited to: (((1))) (a) Performance outcomes
regarding health and safety of children in the children's services system; (((2)))
(b) children's length of stay in out-of-home placement from each date of
referral; (((3))) (c) adherence to permanency planning timelines;
and (((4))) (d) the response time on child protective services
investigations differentiated by risk level determined at intake. The report
shall be provided to the governor and legislature not later than July 1.
(2)
In cases where a dependency action has been initiated and in cases where a
family has been referred to the alternative response system, the department
shall report:
(a)
The number of cases where substance abuse is an identified risk factor in the risk
factor assessment;
(b)
The number of cases where substance abuse is the factor or a primary factor in
the risk assessment;
(c)
The number of cases where substance abuse treatment is recommended for a
parent;
(d)
The period parent's referred to substance abuse treatment wait before entering
substance abuse treatment;
(e)
The number of cases where substance abuse is a factor and substance abuse
treatment is provided;
(f)
The number of cases where substance abuse is a factor and substance abuse treatment
is not provided, including the reason why treatment was not provided; and
(g)
The number of cases where no dependency is filed because a parent receives
substance abuse treatment.
*Sec. 6 was vetoed. See message at end of chapter.
