READ FIRST TIME 02/03/10.   

     AN ACT Relating to the safety of runaway youth; amending RCW 13.32A.082 and 43.43.510; adding a new section to chapter 13.32A RCW; creating a new section; and providing an expiration date.

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.
     The legislature also finds that parents of runaway youth have an interest in knowing their sons and daughters are safe in a shelter, rather than on the streets without protection. The legislature further finds that law enforcement and the department can notify a parent that the youth is safe, without disclosing the youth's location or compromising the ability of youth services providers to effectively assist youth in crisis.

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, including unlicensed youth shelters or runaway and homeless youth programs, 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))
     (b)(i) If a licensed overnight youth shelter, or another licensed 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 youth's parent, preferably within twenty-four hours but within no more than seventy-two hours following the time that the youth is admitted to the shelter or other licensed organization's program. The notification must include the whereabouts of the youth, a description of the youth's physical and emotional condition, and the circumstances surrounding the youth's contact with the shelter or organization. If there are compelling reasons not to notify the parent, the shelter or organization shall instead notify the department.
     (ii) At least once every eight hours after learning that a youth receiving services or shelter under this section is away from home without permission, the shelter or organization staff must consult the information that the Washington state patrol makes publicly available under RCW 43.43.510(2). If the youth is publicly listed as missing, the shelter or organization shall immediately notify the department of its contact with the youth listed as missing. The notification must include a description of the youth's physical and emotional condition and the circumstances surrounding the youth's contact with the shelter or organization.
     (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.
     (c) "Compelling reasons" include, but are not limited to, circumstances that 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.
     (5) This section expires on July 1, 2012.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   A new section is added to chapter 13.32A RCW to read as follows:
     A private right of action or claim on the part of a parent is created against an unlicensed youth shelter or unlicensed runaway and homeless youth program who fails to meet the notification requirements in RCW 13.32A.082(1)(a).

Sec. 4   RCW 43.43.510 and 1998 c 67 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) As soon as is practical and feasible there shall be established, by means of data processing, files listing stolen and wanted vehicles, outstanding warrants, identifying children whose parents, custodians, or legal guardians have reported as having run away from home or the custodial residence, identifiable stolen property, files maintaining the central registry of sex offenders required to register under chapter 9A.44 RCW, and such other files as may be of general assistance to law enforcement agencies.
     (2)(a) At the request of a parent, legal custodian, or guardian who has reported a child as having run away from home or the custodial residence, the Washington state patrol shall make the information about the runaway child as is filed in subsection (1) of this section publicly available.
     (b) The information that can be made publicly available under (a) of this subsection is limited to the information that will facilitate the safe return of the child to his or her home or custodial residence and so long as making the information publicly available incurs no additional costs.