HB 1223-S2 - DIGEST

(AS OF HOUSE 2ND READING 3/15/03)

Places jurisdiction over deceased minors with the county coroner.

Requires the coroner, medical examiner, or person acting in that capacity to promptly notify the department of social and health services of any instances in which the coroner, medical examiner, or person acting in that capacity has received notice of a minor's death.

Provides that nothing in this act creates a duty on the part of the department to investigate the circumstances of a child's death or otherwise provide child protective services beyond that required by chapter 26.44 RCW.

Provides that nothing in this act requires the department to keep a record of all minors on which they have received a notice of death. The department shall keep a record only when it is determined that abuse or neglect caused or contributed to the child's death, or when the case involves a minor for whom the department has previously had an open child protection or child welfare case.

Authorizes the provision of autopsy reports to the department of social and health services in cases involving the death of any minor where abuse or neglect of the child may have caused or contributed to his or her death or in cases involving any minor for whom the department has an open case or has had an open case in the year preceding the death of the child.

Provides that, if a death investigation is initiated by the department of social and health services, the department may share coroner's or medical examiner's documents with the investigators as part of the investigation process.