H-1006.1  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 1409

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      56th Legislature     1999 Regular Session

By Representatives Lambert, Benson, Boldt, G. Chandler, Mulliken, Koster, Sheahan, Schindler and Dunn

Read first time 01/25/1999.  Referred to Committee on Children & Family Services.

Changing provisions relating to child welfare services.

    AN ACT Relating to child welfare services; adding a new section to chapter 43.06A RCW; 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 43.06A RCW to read as follows:

    (1) Upon the request of a member of the legislature, the ombudsman shall ask a complainant to authorize the release to the member of all information related to the complaint.  If the complainant agrees to a release of information, the ombudsman shall periodically inform the member of the status of the complaint, and upon closure of the case, inform the member of how the case was resolved.

    (2) In performing an investigation of a complaint received by the ombudsman, the ombudsman must consider all the documents provided by the complainant.

    (3) The ombudsman shall track the number of complaints regarding employees of each community services office.  If the number of complaints regarding a community services office is significantly higher than the number of complaints received regarding other offices, the ombudsman shall inform the governor of the number of complaints regarding the office and the nature of the complaints.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 74.13 RCW to read as follows:

    Prior to terminating the placement of a child in a foster home due to findings of abuse or neglect that involve injury to the child, the department shall have the child's injuries examined by a physician.

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