| Adopted by the House March 9, 2004 ________________________________________ Speaker of the House of Representatives Adopted by the Senate March 11, 2004 ________________________________________ President of the Senate | I, Richard Nafziger, Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives of the State of Washington, do hereby certify that the attached is HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 4418 as passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on the dates hereon set forth. ________________________________________ Chief Clerk | |
| Approved ________________________________________ Governor of the State of Washington | Secretary of State State of Washington |
| State of Washington | 58th Legislature | 2004 Regular Session |
Read first time . Referred to .
WHEREAS, The adoption process can seem complicated, time consuming,
and frustrating; and
WHEREAS, Options for prospective adoptive parents to consider
include whether to adopt a child from the United States or from another
country, whether or not to adopt a child from the foster care system,
the degree of desired contact between the adoptive family and the
child's birth family following the adoption, and the type of agency or
method of adoption to be used;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, By the House of Representatives of
the state of Washington, the Senate concurring, That a legislative
study panel on issues relating to adoption be created to be composed of
four members as follows:
Two members of the Senate to be appointed by the President of the
Senate, including one member of the majority party and one member of
the minority party; and
Two members of the House of Representatives to be appointed by the
Speaker of the House of Representatives, including one member from the
majority party and one member from the minority party; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the study panel shall invite the
participation of the Governor. The study panel shall create an
advisory committee to participate in the study panel composed of the
following invited individuals: Representatives from federally
recognized Indian tribes, the Washington State Bar Association, the
judiciary, and adoption agencies and child-placing agencies including
state agencies, nonprofit agencies, and those agencies providing
services for domestic or international adoptions; adoptive parents; and
adoptees; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the study panel shall study and report
findings and recommendations, as well as solicit comments from the
community, regarding the current adoption statutes and policies related
to the following issues: Adoption-related fees; barriers to adoption;
child selling and buying; adoption facilitation, advertising, and
marketing; discrimination in adoption based upon ability to pay, race,
color, or national origin of child or parent; background checks; and
agency licensing and credentialing; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the study panel shall report its
findings to the legislature by January 1, 2005.