BILL REQ. #:  S-3577.1 

Read first time 01/14/10.   Referred to Committee on Human Services & Corrections.

     AN ACT Relating to the period of time during which a licensed overnight youth shelter, or an organization whose stated mission is to provide services to homeless or runaway youth and their families, must provide notification to parents of runaway youth; amending RCW 13.32A.082; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that youth services provide safety to youth on the streets and are a critical pathway to ensuring the youth's return home. Runaway youth are without protection, live under the threat of violence, and fall victim to predators who exploit their vulnerability. The policy of this state is to provide assistance to youth in crisis and to protect and preserve families. In order to effectively serve youth on the streets and promote their safe return home, shelters must have the time to establish and maintain an environment that facilitates open communication and trust.

Sec. 2   RCW 13.32A.082 and 2000 c 123 s 10 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1)(a) Except as provided in (b) of this subsection, any person who, without legal authorization, provides shelter to a minor and who knows at the time of providing the shelter that the minor is away from the parent's home without the permission of the parent, or other lawfully prescribed residence, shall promptly report the location of the child to the parent, the law enforcement agency of the jurisdiction in which the person lives, or the department. ((The report)) For purposes of this section, "promptly report" means to report within eight hours after the person has knowledge that the minor is away from a lawfully prescribed residence or home without parental permission.
     (b) If a licensed overnight youth shelter, or an organization whose stated mission is to provide services to homeless or runaway youth and their families, provides shelter to a minor and knows at the time of providing the shelter that the minor is away from a lawfully prescribed residence or home without parental permission, it shall contact the parent within seventy-two hours. The notification should include a description of the minor's physical and emotional condition and the circumstances surrounding the minor's contact with the organization. If there are compelling reasons not to notify the parent, the organization shall instead notify the department.
     (c) Reports required under this section may be made by telephone or any other reasonable means.
     (2) Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this subsection apply throughout this section.
     (a) "Shelter" means the person's home or any structure over which the person has any control.
     (b) (("Promptly report" means to report within eight hours after the person has knowledge that the minor is away from a lawfully prescribed residence or home without parental permission.)) "Compelling reasons" under subsection (1)(b) of this section include, but are not limited to, circumstances which indicate that notifying the parent or legal guardian will subject the child to abuse or neglect as defined in chapter 26.44 RCW.
     (3) When the department receives a report under subsection (1) of this section, it shall make a good faith attempt to notify the parent that a report has been received and offer services designed to resolve the conflict and accomplish a reunification of the family.
     (4) Nothing in this section prohibits any person from immediately reporting the identity and location of any minor who is away from a lawfully prescribed residence or home without parental permission more promptly than required under this section.