H-4832              _______________________________________________

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 2003

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              50th Legislature                              1988 Regular Session

By Representatives Locke, Silver, P. King and Winsley; by request of Department of Social and Health Services

Read first time 2/5/88 and referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

AN ACT Relating to costs in juvenile proceedings; adding a new section to chapter 43.135 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     The legislature finds that counties have traditionally paid the expenses for legal counsel, any appointed guardian ad litem, or other costs of representation for an indigent parent or for a child subject to procedures for families in conflict under chapter 13.32A RCW or dependency proceedings under chapter 13.34 RCW.  The legislature intends to clarify the traditional obligations of the county and does not intend to impose responsibility upon the counties for new programs or additional levels of services.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 43.135 RCW to read as follows:

          The responsibility of the counties to pay the expenses for legal counsel, any appointed guardian ad litem, or other costs related to representation for an indigent parent or for a child subject to procedures for families in conflict under chapter 13.32A RCW or dependency proceedings under chapter 13.34 RCW is a traditional obligation of the counties and does not constitute a new program or increased level of service.  Nothing in this section affects the county's right to seek reimbursement from a private party.