ESSB 5811 -
By Representative Kagi
ADOPTED 04/13/2009
On page 23, after line 33 of the amendment, insert the following:
"Sec. 10 RCW 74.13.109 and 1990 c 285 s 7 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) The secretary shall issue rules and regulations to assist in
the administration of the program of adoption support authorized by RCW
26.33.320 and 74.13.100 through 74.13.145.
(2) Disbursements from the appropriations available from the
general fund shall be made pursuant to such rules and regulations and
pursuant to agreements conforming thereto to be made by the secretary
with parents for the purpose of supporting the adoption of children in,
or likely to be placed in, foster homes or child caring institutions
who are found by the secretary to be difficult to place in adoption
because of physical or other reasons; including, but not limited to,
physical or mental handicap, emotional disturbance, ethnic background,
language, race, color, age, or sibling grouping.
(3) Such agreements shall meet the following criteria:
(((1))) (a) The child whose adoption is to be supported pursuant to
such agreement shall be or have been a child hard to place in adoption.
(((2))) (b) Such agreement must relate to a child who was or is
residing in a foster home or child-caring institution or a child who,
in the judgment of the secretary, is both eligible for, and likely to
be placed in, either a foster home or a child-caring institution.
(((3))) (c) Such agreement shall provide that adoption support
shall not continue beyond the time that the adopted child reaches
eighteen years of age, becomes emancipated, dies, or otherwise ceases
to need support, provided that if the secretary shall find that
continuing dependency of such child after such child reaches eighteen
years of age warrants the continuation of support pursuant to RCW
26.33.320 and 74.13.100 through 74.13.145 the secretary may do so,
subject to all the provisions of RCW 26.33.320 and 74.13.100 through
74.13.145, including annual review of the amount of such support.
(((4))) (d) Any prospective parent who is to be a party to such
agreement shall be a person who has the character, judgment, sense of
responsibility, and disposition which make him or her suitable as an
adoptive parent of such child.
(4) At least six months before an adoption is finalized under
chapter 26.33 RCW and RCW 74.13.100 through 74.13.145, the department
must provide to a prospective adoptive parent written information
describing the limits of the adoption support program, including the
following information:
(a) The limits on monthly cash payments to adoptive families;
(b) The limits on the availability of children's mental health
services and the funds with which to pay for these services;
(c) The process for accessing mental health services for children
receiving adoption support services;
(d) The limits on the one-time cash payments to adoptive families
for expenses related to their adopted children; and
(e) That payment for residential or group care is not available
under the adoption support program."