CERTIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT

                        SENATE BILL 5392

                   Chapter 161, Laws of 2001

                        57th Legislature

                      2001 Regular Session

EMANCIPATION OF MINORS

                    EFFECTIVE DATE:  7/22/01

Passed by the Senate April 16, 2001   YEAS 47   NAYS 0                BRAD OWEN President of the Senate Passed by the House April 4, 2001   YEAS 91   NAYS 2

CERTIFICATE I, Tony M. Cook, Secretary of the Senate of the State of Washington, do hereby certify that the attached is  SENATE BILL 5392 as passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives on the dates hereon set forth.

FRANK CHOPP Speaker of the       House of Representatives	TONY M. COOK                             Secretary
CLYDE BALLARD Speaker of the       House of Representatives

Approved May 7, 2001 Place Style On Codes above, and Style Off Codes below.

FILED                        May 7, 2001 - 12:44 p.m.

GARY LOCKE Governor of the State of Washington

Secretary of State                  State of Washington

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                         SENATE BILL 5392

           _____________________________________________

                      AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE

             Passed Legislature - 2001 Regular Session

State of Washington      57th Legislature     2001 Regular Session

By Senators Long, Constantine and Kline; by request of Administrator for the Courts

Read first time 01/22/2001.  Referred to Committee on Judiciary.

  Changing provisions relating to emancipation of minors.          

    AN ACT Relating to emancipation of minors; and amending RCW 13.64.040.

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

    Sec. 1.  RCW 13.64.040 and 1993 c 294 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The hearing on the petition shall be before a ((judge)) judicial officer, sitting without a jury.  Prior to the presentation of proof the ((judge)) judicial officer shall determine whether:  (((1))) (a) The petitioning minor understands the consequences of the petition regarding his or her legal rights and responsibilities; (((2))) (b) a guardian ad litem should be appointed to investigate the allegations of the petition and file a report with the court.

(2) For the purposes of this section, the term "judicial officer" means:  (a) A judge; (b) a superior court commissioner of a unified family court if the county operates a unified family court; or (c) any superior court commissioner if the county does not operate a unified family court.  The term does not include a judge pro tempore.

    Passed the Senate April 16, 2001.

    Passed the House April 4, 2001.

Approved by the Governor May 7, 2001.

    Filed in Office of Secretary of State May 7, 2001.