| Passed by the Senate April 25, 2009 YEAS 48 BRAD OWEN ________________________________________ President of the Senate Passed by the House April 23, 2009 YEAS 95 FRANK CHOPP ________________________________________ Speaker of the House of Representatives | I, Thomas Hoemann, Secretary of the Senate of the State of Washington, do hereby certify that the attached is SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5431 as passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives on the dates hereon set forth. THOMAS HOEMANN ________________________________________ Secretary | |
| Approved May 14, 2009, 11:49 a.m. CHRISTINE GREGOIRE ________________________________________ Governor of the State of Washington | May 18, 2009 Secretary of State State of Washington |
| State of Washington | 61st Legislature | 2009 Regular Session |
READ FIRST TIME 02/23/09.
AN ACT Relating to subsequent foster family home placements; amending RCW 74.13.290; and adding a new section to chapter 13.34 RCW.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
Sec. 1 RCW 74.13.290 and 1990 c 284 s 11 are each amended to read
as follows:
(1) To provide stability to children in out-of-home care, placement
selection shall be made with a view toward the fewest possible
placements for each child. If possible, the initial placement shall be
viewed as the only placement for the child. Pursuant to RCW 13.34.060
and 13.34.130, placement of the child with a relative or other suitable
person is the preferred option. The use of short-term interim
placements of thirty days or less to protect the child's health or
safety while the placement of choice is being arranged is not a
violation of this principle.
(2) If a child has been previously placed in out-of-home care and
is subsequently returned to out-of-home care, and the department cannot
locate an appropriate and available relative or other suitable person,
the preferred placement for the child is in a foster family home where
the child previously was placed, if the following conditions are met:
(a) The foster family home is available and willing to care for the
child;
(b) The foster family is appropriate and able to meet the child's
needs; and
(c) The placement is in the best interest of the child.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2 A new section is added to chapter 13.34 RCW
to read as follows:
If a child has been previously placed in out-of-home care and is
subsequently returned to out-of-home care, and the department cannot
locate an appropriate and available relative or other suitable person,
the preferred placement for the child is in a foster family home where
the child previously was placed, if the following conditions are met:
(1) The foster family home is available and willing to care for the
child;
(2) The foster family is appropriate and able to meet the child's
needs; and
(3) The placement is in the best interest of the child.