FINAL BILL REPORT

ESSB 5995

C 52 L 01

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Providing for information sharing among the courts, providers, divisions, and agencies serving dependent children and their families.

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

Senate Committee on Human Services & Corrections

House Committee on Children & Family Services

Background:  Zy'Nyia Nobles died from abuse at age three.  She was a young child known to the Department of Social and Health Services.  Her family was also known to the department.  Upon her death, a fatality review team was established to review the circumstances of her untimely death.  A report was generated by the team, and the department responded to the report.

The team=s findings indicated effective communication of meaningful information did not occur.  Zy'Nyia was cared for by a number of providers, had a number of caseworkers, and never did have a permanent placement.  The needs of the family were varied, which required contact with a number of providers and systems.

Summary:  The Department of Social and Health Services is obligated to establish guidelines and use them to facilitate the communication of relevant information among those entities needed to effectively serve families in child dependency cases.  The guidelines must comply with state and federal confidentiality and privacy laws.

Law enforcement must notify the Department of Social and Health Services when a child is present at the site of a methamphetamine lab.

The provisions in the bill shall not be construed to create a civil cause of action.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate480

House     92 0

Effective:  July 22, 2001