CERTIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT

SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5510

Chapter 484, Laws of 2009

61st Legislature
2009 Regular Session



DEPENDENCY PROCEEDINGS--NOTIFICATION



EFFECTIVE DATE: 07/26/09

Passed by the Senate April 26, 2009
  YEAS 48   NAYS 0

BRAD OWEN
________________________________________    
President of the Senate
Passed by the House April 25, 2009
  YEAS 92   NAYS 2

FRANK CHOPP
________________________________________    
Speaker of the House of Representatives


 
CERTIFICATE

I, Thomas Hoemann, Secretary of the Senate of the State of Washington, do hereby certify that the attached is SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5510 as passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives on the dates hereon set forth.

THOMAS HOEMANN
________________________________________    
Secretary
Approved May 14, 2009, 11:52 a.m.








CHRISTINE GREGOIRE
________________________________________    
Governor of the State of Washington		 
FILED
May 18, 2009







Secretary of State
State of Washington


_____________________________________________ 

SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5510
_____________________________________________

AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE

Passed Legislature - 2009 Regular Session
State of Washington61st Legislature2009 Regular Session

By Senate Human Services & Corrections (originally sponsored by Senators Stevens, Hargrove, Swecker, and Shin)

READ FIRST TIME 02/25/09.   



     AN ACT Relating to notification in dependency matters; and adding a new section to chapter 13.34 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 13.34 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) After entry of a dispositional order pursuant to RCW 13.34.130 ordering placement of a child in out-of-home care, the department shall continue to encourage the parent, guardian, or custodian of the child to engage in services and maintain contact with the child, which shall be accomplished by attaching a standard notice to the services and safety plan to be provided in advance of hearings conducted pursuant to RCW 13.34.138.
     (2) The notice shall be photocopied on contrasting paper to distinguish it from the services and safety plan to which it is attached, and shall be in substantially the following form:


"NOTICE



     If you have not been maintaining consistent contact with your child in out-of-home care, your ability to reunify with your child may be jeopardized. If this is your situation, you need to be aware that you have important legal rights and must take steps to protect your interests.
     1. The department of social and health services (or other supervising agency) and the court have created a permanency plan for your child, including a primary placement plan and a secondary placement plan, and recommending services needed before your child can be placed in the primary or secondary placement. If you want the court to order that your child be reunified with you, you should notify your lawyer and the department, and you should carefully comply with court orders for services and participate regularly in visitation with your child. Failure to promptly engage in services or to maintain contact with your child may lead to the filing of a petition to terminate your rights as a parent.
     2. Primary and secondary permanency plans are intended to run at the same time so that your child will have a permanent home as quickly as possible. Even if you want another parent or person to be the primary placement choice for your child, you should tell your lawyer, the department, and the court if you want to be the secondary placement option, and you should comply with any court orders for services and participate in visitation with your child. Early and consistent involvement in your child's case plan is important for the well-being of your child.
     3. Dependency review hearings, and all other dependency case hearings, are legal proceedings with potentially serious consequences. Failure to participate, respond, or comply with court orders may lead to the loss of your parental rights."


         Passed by the Senate April 26, 2009.
         Passed by the House April 25, 2009.
         Approved by the Governor May 14, 2009.
         Filed in Office of Secretary of State May 18, 2009.