SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6521

BYSenators Fleming, Bailey, Craswell, Kiskaddon, Garrett and Johnson

Requiring consideration of minority race or minority ethnic heritage in adoptions and foster care placements.

Senate Committee on Children & Family Services

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 1, 1988; February 3, 1988

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6521 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Kiskaddon, Chairman; Bailey, Vice Chairman; Craswell, Fleming, Garrett, Stratton.

Senate Staff:Jean Soliz (786-7755)

                  February 4, 1988

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES, FEBRUARY 3, 1988

BACKGROUND:

Minority children comprise about 29 percent of all children who are placed in out-of-home care.  This rate is three times the prevalence of minorities in the general population.  The Department of Social and Health Services reports a growing shortage of culturally appropriate foster care and adoptive families for minority children. 

The Department's current recordkeeping methods do not contain data necessary to determine information regarding the appropriateness of services to minority children and to report to the federal government for funding purposes.

SUMMARY:

A state policy is declared to serve the interests of children by considering a child's race and ethnic heritage in making foster care and adoptive placements.

The statutes related to adoption, foster care placements and families in conflict are modified to require child-placing agencies to give preference to a child's race or ethnic heritage in making placements.  A religious preference may also be chosen.

Child-placing agencies are required to use special efforts to recruit placement homes from among the child's relatives or among families of the same ethnic, racial or religious heritage of the child.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

Language is added to clarify that the requirement to follow parental preferences does not apply to private placements between consenting families.

The custodial parent may choose the racial, ethnic or religious preference for a child, except that children over age 13 may choose their own preference.

The Department of Social and Health Services is required to monitor compliance with the preferences in placement and family recruitment activities.

Numerous changes are made to statutory placement of the preference requirements.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      requested January 25, 1988

Effective Date:July 1, 1988

Senate Committee - Testified: James Kelly, Black Child Development Institute; Jon Leveque, Bob Watt, Alliance for Children, Youth and Families; Kathryn Briar and Joyce Hobson, Nobie Takahashi, Beatriz Munoz, Department of Social and Health Services; Kip Tokuda, Washington State Council for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect