HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 ESSB 6218

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                 Children & Family Services

Title:  An act relating to technical and clarifying amendments to the family reconciliation act.

Brief Description:  Making technical and clarifying amendments to the family reconciliation act.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Human Services & Corrections (originally sponsored by Senators Hargrove, Long and Costa).

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Children & Family Services:  2/23/00, 2/24/00 [DPA].

      Brief Summary of Engrossed Substitute Bill

            (As Amended by House Committee)

$Makes technical and clarifying changes to the underlying statutes.

$Codifies an existing uncodified intent section and excludes HOPE centers explicitly from the list of out-of-home placement options.

$Requires a report on the utilization of multidisciplinary teams, including recommendations on the creation and usefulness of the teams.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.  Signed by 10 members:  Representatives D. Sommers, Republican Co-Chair; Tokuda, Democratic Co-Chair; Boldt, Republican Vice Chair; Kagi, Democratic Vice Chair; Campbell; Carrell; Dickerson; Eickmeyer; Kastama and Pflug.

Staff:  Deborah Frazier (786-7152).

Background:

Since the Family Reconciliation Act was enacted, revisions have been made several times.  Often, the revisions did not reference each other or other affected statutes.

Summary of Amended Bill:

The bill makes primarily technical and clarifying changes to the underlying statutes.  In addition, the following changes are made:

$excludes HOPE centers explicitly from the list of out-of-home placement options;

$codifies an existing uncodified intent section which states that the act recognizes resource limitations on counties and that DSHS' responsibilities are contingent upon available funds; and,

$requires a report on the utilization of multidisciplinary teams, including recommendations on the creation and usefulness of the teams.

Amended Bill Compared to Engrossed Substitute Bill:  The Engrossed Substitute Bill deleted references to crimes for which an adult can be prosecuted if they involve a child in the commission of the crimes.  The amended bill reinstates current statutory language.

The Engrossed Bill repealed a section requiring that certain parental preferences be considered in making foster care placement.  The amended bill reinstates current statutory language.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  These statutes have been changed several times over the years.  The bill clarifies language and make it more readable.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  (In support) Senator Hargrove, prime sponsor; and Jake Romo, Department of Social and Health Services.