S-1936.2  _______________________________________________

                    SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5744

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      56th Legislature     1999 Regular Session

By Senate Committee on Human Services & Corrections (originally sponsored by Senators Haugen, Costa, Sheahan and Deccio)

Read first time 03/01/1999.

Ordering a proposal to provide for representation of parties in child dependency and termination proceedings. 

    AN ACT Relating to representation of parties in child dependency and termination proceedings; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  (1) The office of public defense shall develop a proposal to address the costs of legal representation and expenses reasonably related to such representation for indigent criminal defendants and indigent parents, guardians, legal custodians, and children in dependency and termination hearings under chapter 13.34 RCW.  The proposal shall address the increased dependency and termination filings by the state under chapter 13.34 RCW and the effect of this increase on indigent defense costs.  The proposal shall recommend strategies to ensure that an equitable method of paying for indigent defense costs in criminal trial proceedings and in dependency and termination proceedings is established.

    (2) The office of public defense shall present the proposal required under subsection (1) of this section to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature by December 6, 1999.

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