BILL REQ. #:  H-2118.2 



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SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1287
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State of Washington60th Legislature2007 Regular Session

By House Committee on Early Learning & Children's Services (originally sponsored by Representatives Kagi, Hinkle, Walsh, Haler, Appleton, Simpson, Moeller and Kenney; by request of Department of Social and Health Services)

READ FIRST TIME 3/5/07.   



     AN ACT Relating to compliance with the federal safe and timely interstate placement of foster children; amending RCW 13.34.138, 13.34.145, and 13.34.062; and adding new sections to chapter 13.34 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 13.34 RCW to read as follows:
     The department of social and health services or other supervising agency shall provide the child's foster parents, preadoptive parents, or other caregivers with notice of their right to be heard prior to each proceeding held with respect to the child in juvenile court under this chapter. The rights to notice and to be heard apply only to persons with whom a child has been placed by the department or other supervising agency and who are providing care to the child at the time of the proceeding. This section shall not be construed to grant party status to any person solely on the basis of such notice and right to be heard.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 13.34 RCW to read as follows:
     If a child is placed in the custody of the department of social and health services or other supervising agency, immediately following the shelter care hearing, an order and authorization regarding health care and education records for the child shall be entered. The order shall:
     (1) Provide the department or other supervising agency with the right to inspect and copy all health, medical, mental health, and education records of the child;
     (2) Authorize and direct any agency, hospital, doctor, nurse, dentist, orthodontist, or other health care provider, therapist, drug or alcohol treatment provider, psychologist, psychiatrist, or mental health clinic, or health or medical records custodian or document management company, or school or school organization to permit the department or other supervising agency to inspect and to obtain copies of any records relating to the child involved in the case, without the further consent of the parent or guardian of the child; and
     (3) Grant the department or other supervising agency or its designee the authority and responsibility, where applicable, to:
     (a) Notify the child's school that the child is in out-of-home placement;
     (b) Enroll the child in school;
     (c) Request the school transfer records;
     (d) Request and authorize evaluation of special needs;
     (e) Attend parent or teacher conferences;
     (f) Excuse absences;
     (g) Grant permission for extracurricular activities;
     (h) Authorize medications which need to be administered during school hours and sign for medical needs that arise during school hours; and
     (i) Complete or update school emergency records.
     Access to records under this section is subject to the child's consent where required by other state and federal laws.

Sec. 3   RCW 13.34.138 and 2005 c 512 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Except for children whose cases are reviewed by a citizen review board under chapter 13.70 RCW, the status of all children found to be dependent shall be reviewed by the court at least every six months from the beginning date of the placement episode or the date dependency is established, whichever is first, at a hearing in which it shall be determined whether court supervision should continue. The initial review hearing shall be an in-court review and shall be set six months from the beginning date of the placement episode or no more than ninety days from the entry of the disposition order, whichever comes first. The initial review hearing may be a permanency planning hearing when necessary to meet the time frames set forth in RCW 13.34.145(3) or 13.34.134. The review shall include findings regarding the agency and parental completion of disposition plan requirements, and if necessary, revised permanency time limits. This review shall consider both the agency's and parent's efforts that demonstrate consistent measurable progress over time in meeting the disposition plan requirements. The requirements for the initial review hearing, including the in-court requirement, shall be accomplished within existing resources. ((The supervising agency shall provide a foster parent, preadoptive parent, or relative with notice of, and their right to an opportunity to be heard in, a review hearing pertaining to the child, but only if that person is currently providing care to that child at the time of the hearing. This section shall not be construed to grant party status to any person who has been provided an opportunity to be heard.))
     (a) A child shall not be returned home at the review hearing unless the court finds that a reason for removal as set forth in RCW 13.34.130 no longer exists. The parents, guardian, or legal custodian shall report to the court the efforts they have made to correct the conditions which led to removal. If a child is returned, casework supervision shall continue for a period of six months, at which time there shall be a hearing on the need for continued intervention.
     (b) If the child is not returned home, the court shall establish in writing:
     (i) Whether reasonable services have been provided to or offered to the parties to facilitate reunion, specifying the services provided or offered;
     (ii) Whether the child has been placed in the least-restrictive setting appropriate to the child's needs, including whether consideration and preference has been given to placement with the child's relatives, and whether both in-state and, where appropriate, out-of-state placements have been considered;
     (iii) Whether there is a continuing need for placement and whether the placement is appropriate;
     (iv) Whether there has been compliance with the case plan by the child, the child's parents, and the agency supervising the placement;
     (v) Whether progress has been made toward correcting the problems that necessitated the child's placement in out-of-home care;
     (vi) Whether the parents have visited the child and any reasons why visitation has not occurred or has been infrequent;
     (vii) Whether additional services, including housing assistance, are needed to facilitate the return of the child to the child's parents; if so, the court shall order that reasonable services be offered specifying such services; and
     (viii) The projected date by which the child will be returned home or other permanent plan of care will be implemented.
     (c) The court at the review hearing may order that a petition seeking termination of the parent and child relationship be filed.
     (2)(a) In any case in which the court orders that a dependent child may be returned to or remain in the child's home, the in-home placement shall be contingent upon the following:
     (i) The compliance of the parents with court orders related to the care and supervision of the child, including compliance with an agency case plan; and
     (ii) The continued participation of the parents, if applicable, in available substance abuse or mental health treatment if substance abuse or mental illness was a contributing factor to the removal of the child.
     (b) The following may be grounds for removal of the child from the home, subject to review by the court:
     (i) Noncompliance by the parents with the agency case plan or court order;
     (ii) The parent's inability, unwillingness, or failure to participate in available services or treatment for themselves or the child, including substance abuse treatment if a parent's substance abuse was a contributing factor to the abuse or neglect; or
     (iii) The failure of the parents to successfully and substantially complete available services or treatment for themselves or the child, including substance abuse treatment if a parent's substance abuse was a contributing factor to the abuse or neglect.
     (3) The court's ability to order housing assistance under RCW 13.34.130 and this section is: (a) Limited to cases in which homelessness or the lack of adequate and safe housing is the primary reason for an out-of-home placement; and (b) subject to the availability of funds appropriated for this specific purpose.
     (4) The court shall consider the child's relationship with siblings in accordance with RCW 13.34.130(3).

Sec. 4   RCW 13.34.145 and 2003 c 227 s 6 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) A permanency plan shall be developed no later than sixty days from the time the supervising agency assumes responsibility for providing services, including placing the child, or at the time of a hearing under RCW 13.34.130, whichever occurs first. The permanency planning process continues until a permanency planning goal is achieved or dependency is dismissed. The planning process shall include reasonable efforts to return the child to the parent's home.
     (a) Whenever a child is placed in out-of-home care pursuant to RCW 13.34.130, the agency that has custody of the child shall provide the court with a written permanency plan of care directed towards securing a safe, stable, and permanent home for the child as soon as possible. The plan shall identify one of the following outcomes as the primary goal and may also identify additional outcomes as alternative goals: Return of the child to the home of the child's parent, guardian, or legal custodian; adoption; guardianship; permanent legal custody; long-term relative or foster care, until the child is age eighteen, with a written agreement between the parties and the care provider; a responsible living skills program; and independent living, if appropriate and if the child is age sixteen or older and the provisions of subsection (2) of this section are met. The plan shall state whether both in-state and, where appropriate, out-of-state placement options have been considered by the agency.
     (b) The identified outcomes and goals of the permanency plan may change over time based upon the circumstances of the particular case.
     (c) Permanency planning goals should be achieved at the earliest possible date, preferably before the child has been in out-of-home care for fifteen months. In cases where parental rights have been terminated, the child is legally free for adoption, and adoption has been identified as the primary permanency planning goal, it shall be a goal to complete the adoption within six months following entry of the termination order.
     (d) For purposes related to permanency planning:
     (i) "Guardianship" means a dependency guardianship, a legal guardianship pursuant to chapter 11.88 RCW, or equivalent laws of another state or a federally recognized Indian tribe.
     (ii) "Permanent custody order" means a custody order entered pursuant to chapter 26.10 RCW.
     (iii) "Permanent legal custody" means legal custody pursuant to chapter 26.10 RCW or equivalent laws of another state or of a federally recognized Indian tribe.
     (2) Whenever a permanency plan identifies independent living as a goal, the plan shall also specifically identify the services that will be provided to assist the child to make a successful transition from foster care to independent living. Before the court approves independent living as a permanency plan of care, the court shall make a finding that the provision of services to assist the child in making a transition from foster care to independent living will allow the child to manage his or her financial, personal, social, educational, and nonfinancial affairs. The department shall not discharge a child to an independent living situation before the child is eighteen years of age unless the child becomes emancipated pursuant to chapter 13.64 RCW.
     (3) A permanency planning hearing shall be held in all cases where the child has remained in out-of-home care for at least nine months and an adoption decree, guardianship order, or permanent custody order has not previously been entered. The hearing shall take place no later than twelve months following commencement of the current placement episode.
     (4) Whenever a child is removed from the home of a dependency guardian or long-term relative or foster care provider, and the child is not returned to the home of the parent, guardian, or legal custodian but is placed in out-of-home care, a permanency planning hearing shall take place no later than twelve months, as provided in subsection (3) of this section, following the date of removal unless, prior to the hearing, the child returns to the home of the dependency guardian or long-term care provider, the child is placed in the home of the parent, guardian, or legal custodian, an adoption decree, guardianship order, or a permanent custody order is entered, or the dependency is dismissed.
     (5) No later than ten working days prior to the permanency planning hearing, the agency having custody of the child shall submit a written permanency plan to the court and shall mail a copy of the plan to all parties and their legal counsel, if any.
     (6) At the permanency planning hearing, the court shall enter findings as required by RCW 13.34.138 and shall review the permanency plan prepared by the agency. If the child has resided in the home of a foster parent or relative for more than six months prior to the permanency planning hearing, the court shall also enter a finding regarding whether the foster parent or relative was informed of the hearing as required in RCW 74.13.280 and 13.34.138. If a goal of long-term foster or relative care has been achieved prior to the permanency planning hearing, the court shall review the child's status to determine whether the placement and the plan for the child's care remain appropriate. In cases where the primary permanency planning goal has not been achieved, the court shall inquire regarding the reasons why the primary goal has not been achieved and determine what needs to be done to make it possible to achieve the primary goal. In all cases, the court shall:
     (a)(i) Order the permanency plan prepared by the agency to be implemented; or
     (ii) Modify the permanency plan, and order implementation of the modified plan; and
     (b)(i) Order the child returned home only if the court finds that a reason for removal as set forth in RCW 13.34.130 no longer exists; or
     (ii) Order the child to remain in out-of-home care for a limited specified time period while efforts are made to implement the permanency plan.
     (7) If the court orders the child returned home, casework supervision shall continue for at least six months, at which time a review hearing shall be held pursuant to RCW 13.34.138, and the court shall determine the need for continued intervention.
     (8) The juvenile court may hear a petition for permanent legal custody when: (a) The court has ordered implementation of a permanency plan that includes permanent legal custody; and (b) the party pursuing the permanent legal custody is the party identified in the permanency plan as the prospective legal custodian. During the pendency of such proceeding, the court shall conduct review hearings and further permanency planning hearings as provided in this chapter. At the conclusion of the legal guardianship or permanent legal custody proceeding, a juvenile court hearing shall be held for the purpose of determining whether dependency should be dismissed. If a guardianship or permanent custody order has been entered, the dependency shall be dismissed.
     (9) Continued juvenile court jurisdiction under this chapter shall not be a barrier to the entry of an order establishing a legal guardianship or permanent legal custody when the requirements of subsection (8) of this section are met.
     (10) Following the first permanency planning hearing, the court shall hold a further permanency planning hearing in accordance with this section at least once every twelve months until a permanency planning goal is achieved or the dependency is dismissed, whichever occurs first.
     (11) Except as provided in RCW 13.34.235, the status of all dependent children shall continue to be reviewed by the court at least once every six months, in accordance with RCW 13.34.138, until the dependency is dismissed. Prior to the second permanency planning hearing, the agency that has custody of the child shall consider whether to file a petition for termination of parental rights.
     (12) Nothing in this chapter may be construed to limit the ability of the agency that has custody of the child to file a petition for termination of parental rights or a guardianship petition at any time following the establishment of dependency. Upon the filing of such a petition, a fact-finding hearing shall be scheduled and held in accordance with this chapter unless the agency requests dismissal of the petition prior to the hearing or unless the parties enter an agreed order terminating parental rights, establishing guardianship, or otherwise resolving the matter.
     (13) The approval of a permanency plan that does not contemplate return of the child to the parent does not relieve the supervising agency of its obligation to provide reasonable services, under this chapter, intended to effectuate the return of the child to the parent, including but not limited to, visitation rights. The court shall consider the child's relationships with siblings in accordance with RCW 13.34.130.
     (14) Nothing in this chapter may be construed to limit the procedural due process rights of any party in a termination or guardianship proceeding filed under this chapter.

Sec. 5   RCW 13.34.062 and 2004 c 147 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The written notice of custody and rights required by RCW 13.34.060 shall be in substantially the following form:


          "NOTICE


     Your child has been placed in temporary custody under the supervision of Child Protective Services (or other person or agency). You have important legal rights and you must take steps to protect your interests.
     1. A court hearing will be held before a judge within 72 hours of the time your child is taken into custody excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. You should call the court at (insert appropriate phone number here) for specific information about the date, time, and location of the court hearing.
     2. You have the right to have a lawyer represent you at the hearing. Your right to representation continues after the shelter care hearing. You have the right to records the department intends to rely upon. A lawyer can look at the files in your case, talk to child protective services and other agencies, tell you about the law, help you understand your rights, and help you at hearings. If you cannot afford a lawyer, the court will appoint one to represent you. To get a court-appointed lawyer you must contact: (explain local procedure) .
     3. At the hearing, you have the right to speak on your own behalf, to introduce evidence, to examine witnesses, and to receive a decision based solely on the evidence presented to the judge.
     4. If your hearing occurs before a court commissioner, you have the right to have the decision of the court commissioner reviewed by a superior court judge. To obtain that review, you must, within ten days after the entry of the decision of the court commissioner, file with the court a motion for revision of the decision, as provided in RCW 2.24.050.
     You should be present at any shelter care hearing. If you do not come, the judge will not hear what you have to say.
     You may call the Child Protective Services' caseworker for more information about your child. The caseworker's name and telephone number are: (insert name and telephone number) .
     5. You have a right to a case conference to develop a written service agreement following the shelter care hearing. The service agreement may not conflict with the court's order of shelter care. You may request that a multidisciplinary team, family group conference, or prognostic staffing be convened for your child's case. You may participate in these processes with your counsel present.
     6. If your child is placed in the custody of the department of social and health services or other supervising agency, immediately following the shelter care hearing, the court will enter an order granting the department or other supervising agency the right to inspect and copy all health, medical, mental health, and education records of the child, directing health care providers to release such information without your further consent, and granting the department or supervising agency or its designee the authority and responsibility, where applicable, to:
     (1) Notify the child's school that the child is in out-of-home placement;
     (2) Enroll the child in school;
     (3) Request the school transfer records;
     (4) Request and authorize evaluation of special needs;
     (5) Attend parent or teacher conferences;
     (6) Excuse absences;
     (7) Grant permission for extracurricular activities;
     (8) Authorize medications which need to be administered during school hours and sign for medical needs that arise during school hours; and
     (9) Complete or update school emergency records."

     Upon receipt of the written notice, the parent, guardian, or legal custodian shall acknowledge such notice by signing a receipt prepared by child protective services. If the parent, guardian, or legal custodian does not sign the receipt, the reason for lack of a signature shall be written on the receipt. The receipt shall be made a part of the court's file in the dependency action.
     If after making reasonable efforts to provide notification, child protective services is unable to determine the whereabouts of the parents, guardian, or legal custodian, the notice shall be delivered or sent to the last known address of the parent, guardian, or legal custodian.
     (2) If child protective services is not required to give notice under RCW 13.34.060(2) and subsection (1) of this section, the juvenile court counselor assigned to the matter shall make all reasonable efforts to advise the parents, guardian, or legal custodian of the time and place of any shelter care hearing, request that they be present, and inform them of their basic rights as provided in RCW 13.34.090.
     (3) Reasonable efforts to advise and to give notice, as required in RCW 13.34.060(2) and subsections (1) and (2) of this section, shall include, at a minimum, investigation of the whereabouts of the parent, guardian, or legal custodian. If such reasonable efforts are not successful, or the parent, guardian, or legal custodian does not appear at the shelter care hearing, the petitioner shall testify at the hearing or state in a declaration:
     (a) The efforts made to investigate the whereabouts of, and to advise, the parent, guardian, or legal custodian; and
     (b) Whether actual advice of rights was made, to whom it was made, and how it was made, including the substance of any oral communication or copies of written materials used.
     (4) The court shall hear evidence regarding notice given to, and efforts to notify, the parent, guardian, or legal custodian and shall examine the need for shelter care. The court shall hear evidence regarding the efforts made to place the child with a relative. The court shall make an express finding as to whether the notice required under RCW 13.34.060(2) and subsections (1) and (2) of this section was given to the parent, guardian, or legal custodian. All parties have the right to present testimony to the court regarding the need or lack of need for shelter care. Hearsay evidence before the court regarding the need or lack of need for shelter care must be supported by sworn testimony, affidavit, or declaration of the person offering such evidence.
     (5)(a) A shelter care order issued pursuant to RCW 13.34.065 shall include the requirement for a case conference as provided in RCW 13.34.067. However, if the parent is not present at the shelter care hearing, or does not agree to the case conference, the court shall not include the requirement for the case conference in the shelter care order.
     (b) If the court orders a case conference, the shelter care order shall include notice to all parties and establish the date, time, and location of the case conference which shall be no later than thirty days prior to the fact-finding hearing.
     (c) The court may order a conference or meeting as an alternative to the case conference required under RCW 13.34.067 so long as the conference or meeting ordered by the court meets all requirements under RCW 13.34.067, including the requirement of a written agreement specifying the services to be provided to the parent.
     (6) A shelter care order issued pursuant to RCW 13.34.065 may be amended at any time with notice and hearing thereon. The shelter care decision of placement shall be modified only upon a showing of change in circumstances. No child may be placed in shelter care for longer than thirty days without an order, signed by the judge, authorizing continued shelter care.
     (7) Any parent, guardian, or legal custodian who for good cause is unable to attend the initial shelter care hearing may request that a subsequent shelter care hearing be scheduled. The request shall be made to the clerk of the court where the petition is filed prior to the initial shelter care hearing. Upon the request of the parent, the court shall schedule the hearing within seventy-two hours of the request, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. The clerk shall notify all other parties of the hearing by any reasonable means.

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