HOUSE BILL REPORT

ESB 6600

BYSenators Pullen, Talmadge, Rinehart and Saling

Revising provisions relating to child abuse reporting by public employees.

House Committe on Human Services

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (9)

      Signed by Representative Brekke, Chair; Scott, Vice Chair; Anderson, Leonard, Moyer, Padden, H. Sommers, Sutherland and Winsley.

House Staff:Jean Wessman (786-7132)

AS PASSED HOUSE MARCH 2, 1988

BACKGROUND:

Certain persons including school personnel, health professionals, child care providers, employees of the Department of Social and Health Services and counselors, have a duty to report abuse or neglect of children, adult dependents, or developmentally disabled persons.  The duty to report arises when there is reasonable cause to suspect abuse or neglect.  When a legal action is brought against the public employee for failure to report abuse or neglect the public employee must personally bear the cost of legal defense regardless of a finding of good cause or lack of negligence.

SUMMARY:

Public employers shall bear the expense of legal defense for employees who act in good faith and without gross negligence in their duty to report abuse or neglect of children or adult dependents or developmentally disabled persons.

Fiscal Note:      Available.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Kevin Evoy, Association of Washington School Principals.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    Several school district employees have incurred large personal expenses for legal representation when they failed to report suspected abuse or neglect despite having the court find that they did so with good cause and without any negligence.  Such employees need financial protection by their employers when acting in good faith.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.