BILL REQ. #:  H-1127.2 

Read first time 01/23/2007.   Referred to Committee on Early Learning & Children's Services.

     AN ACT Relating to public access to child in need of services and at-risk youth hearings; and amending RCW 13.32A.200.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 13.32A.200 and 2000 c 123 s 25 are each amended to read as follows:
     All hearings pursuant to this chapter may be conducted at any time or place within the county of the residence of the parent and such cases ((shall not)) may be heard in conjunction with the business of any other division of the superior court. However, the public shall be excluded from ((hearings and)) a child in need of services hearing if the judicial officer finds that excluding the public is in the best interest of the child. The public shall be excluded from an at-risk youth hearing if either parent requests that the public be excluded or if the judicial officer finds it is in the best interest of the child. Only such persons who are found by the court to have a direct interest in the case or the work of the court shall be admitted to the closed proceedings.