VETO MESSAGE ON SB 6238-S

                   April 3, 1998

To the Honorable President and Members,

  The Senate of the State of Washington

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     I am returning herewith, without my approval as to section 6, Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill No. 6238 entitled:

"AN ACT Relating to dependent children;"

     This bill requires the Department of Social and Health Services to specify, via affidavit, evidence that harm will come to a particular child if the child is not taken from his home.  The affidavit must contain evidence of the risk of imminent harm.  The bill also requires quicker access to information for parents, to help give them an adequate opportunity to make their case at the shelter care hearing.  Under this legislation, parents will be able to become more engaged in the process of identifying the services they require to prevent serious harm to a child, were the child returned to them.

     Section 6 of this legislation would require DSHS to publish a great deal of new information in its annual quality assurance report.  The required information is not now collected, and there is no indication why DSHS should start collecting it, or what the usefulness of that information would be.  And, no funding was provided for this purpose.

     For these reasons, I have vetoed section 6 of Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill No. 6238.

     With the exception of section 6, Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill No. 6238 is approved.

                   Respectfully submitted,

                   Gary Locke

                   Governor