FINAL BILL REPORT

SSB 6207

                                  C 189 L 88

BYSenate Committee on Children & Family Services (originally sponsored by Senators Craswell, Owen, Kiskaddon and Stratton)

Increasing out-of-home placement alternatives for victims of child abuse.

Senate Committee on Children & Family Services

House Committe on Human Services

SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

BACKGROUND:

Out-of-home placements for victims of child abuse have increased in the last several years.  As a result, the financial impact on the state has increased.  The children who are victims of abuse have suffered from the traumatic experience of being removed from their homes and placed with strangers.  Less costly and less traumatic out-of-home placements are needed.

SUMMARY:

If a child is found to be dependent and the disposition by the court is that the child should be removed from the home, the court shall order that the child be placed with one of the relatives listed in the statute with whom the child is comfortable, has a relationship and who is willing and available to care for the child.  The court shall not place the child with a relative if there is any reason to believe that the safety or welfare of the child will be jeopardized.

If, at the disposition hearing, the court does not have sufficient information to decide whether or not to place the child with a relative, the child shall remain in foster care, and the Department of Social and Health Services must conduct an investigation and report back to the court within 30 days.  If the relative is found to be suitable in all respects, the required criminal history check need not be completed before placement but must be completed as soon thereafter as possible.  The relative with whom the child is placed must cooperate with the agency case plan and court order.  If the relative does not cooperate, the child may be removed from the relatives' home.

The department shall establish an advisory task force to study procedures used in out-of-home placements with relatives.  The objective of the study is to identify what the barriers are to earlier placement of children with relatives and to recommend procedures to encourage immediate placement of children with relatives.

The task force will report to the Legislature before December 15, 1988, on its findings and recommendations and the results of innovations or programs used by the department to encourage placement of children with relatives.

The licensing statute is amended to remove the criminal background check as an obstacle to immediate relative placement.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      Senate    48     0

      House 98   0 (House amended)

      Senate    47     0 (Senate concurred)

EFFECTIVE:June 9, 1988