CERTIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT

SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 2988



58th Legislature
2004 Regular Session

Passed by the House March 10, 2004
  Yeas 96   Nays 0


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Speaker of the House of Representatives


Passed by the Senate March 10, 2004
  Yeas 49   Nays 0



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President of the Senate
CERTIFICATE

I, Richard Nafziger, Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives of the State of Washington, do hereby certify that the attached is SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 2988 as passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on the dates hereon set forth.



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Chief Clerk
Approved 









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Governor of the State of Washington
FILED







Secretary of State
State of Washington


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SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 2988
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AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE

Passed Legislature - 2004 Regular Session
State of Washington58th Legislature2004 Regular Session

By House Committee on Children & Family Services (originally sponsored by Representatives Boldt, Clements, Pearson, Bailey and McMahan)

READ FIRST TIME 02/06/04.   



     AN ACT Relating to foster parents' rights; and adding new sections 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 74.13 RCW to read as follows:
     A foster parent who believes that a department employee has retaliated against the foster parent or in any other manner discriminated against the foster parent because:
     (1) The foster parent made a complaint with the office of the family and children's ombudsman, the attorney general, law enforcement agencies, or the department, provided information, or otherwise cooperated with the investigation of such a complaint;
     (2) The foster parent has caused to be instituted any proceedings under or related to Title 13 RCW;
     (3) The foster parent has testified or is about to testify in any proceedings under or related to Title 13 RCW;
     (4) The foster parent has advocated for services on behalf of the foster child;
     (5) The foster parent has sought to adopt a foster child in the foster parent's care; or
     (6) The foster parent has discussed or consulted with anyone concerning the foster parent's rights under this chapter or chapter 74.15 or 13.34 RCW,
may file a complaint with the office of the family and children's ombudsman. The office of the family and children's ombudsman shall include its recommendations regarding complaints filed under this section in its annual report pursuant to RCW 43.06A.030. The office of the family and children's ombudsman shall identify trends which may indicate a need to improve relations between the department and foster parents.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 74.13 RCW to read as follows:
     The department shall develop procedures for responding to recommendations of the office of the family and children's ombudsman as a result of any and all complaints filed by foster parents under section 1 of this act.

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