H-1834              _______________________________________________

 

                                           SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL NO. 480

                        _______________________________________________

 

State of Washington                              50th Legislature                              1987 Regular Session

 

By House Committee on Human Services (originally sponsored by Representatives Brekke, Winsley, Moyer, Scott, Wang, Leonard and Brough; by request of Department of Social and Health Services)

 

 

Read first time 2/18/87 and referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

 

 


AN ACT Relating to Indian child welfare; amending RCW 13.04.030, 26.33.080, 26.33.090, 26.33.110, 26.33.120, 26.33.160, 26.33.240, 26.33.310, 74.13.031, 74.13.080, 74.15.020, and 74.15.090; adding a new section to chapter 13.34 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 74.15 RCW; and providing an effective date.

 

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

 

        Sec. 1.  Section 2, chapter 160, Laws of 1913 as last amended by section 29, chapter 354, Laws of 1985 and RCW 13.04.030 are each amended to read as follows:

          The juvenile courts in the several counties of this state, shall have exclusive original jurisdiction over all proceedings:

          (1) Under the interstate compact on placement of children as provided in chapter 26.34 RCW;

          (2) Relating to children alleged or found to be dependent as provided in chapter 26.44 RCW and in RCW 13.34.030 through 13.34.170, as now or hereafter amended;

          (3) Relating to the termination of a parent and child relationship as provided in RCW 13.34.180 through 13.34.210, as now or hereafter amended;

          (4) To approve or disapprove alternative residential placement as provided in RCW 13.32A.170;

          (5) Relating to juveniles alleged or found to have committed offenses, traffic infractions, or violations as provided in RCW 13.40.020 through 13.40.230, as now or hereafter amended, unless:

          (a) The juvenile court transfers jurisdiction of a particular juvenile to adult criminal court pursuant to RCW 13.40.110, as now or hereafter amended; or

          (b) The statute of limitations applicable to adult prosecution for the offense, traffic infraction, or violation has expired; or

(c) The alleged offense or infraction is a traffic, fish, boating, or game offense or traffic infraction committed by a juvenile sixteen years of age or older and would, if committed by an adult, be tried or heard in a court of limited jurisdiction, in which instance the appropriate court of limited jurisdiction shall have jurisdiction over the alleged offense or infraction:  PROVIDED, That if such an alleged offense or infraction and an alleged offense or infraction subject to juvenile court jurisdiction arise out of the same event or incident, the juvenile court may have jurisdiction of both matters:  PROVIDED FURTHER, That the jurisdiction under this subsection does not constitute "transfer" or a "decline" for purposes of RCW 13.40.110(1) or subsection (5)(a) of this section:  PROVIDED FURTHER, That courts of limited jurisdiction which confine juveniles for an alleged offense or infraction may place juveniles in juvenile detention facilities under an agreement with the officials responsible for the administration of the juvenile detention facility in RCW 13.04.035 and 13.20.060;

           (6) Under the interstate compact on juveniles as provided in chapter 13.24 RCW; ((and))

           (7) Relating to termination of a diversion agreement under RCW 13.40.080 as now or hereafter amended, including a proceeding in which the divertee has attained eighteen years of age; and

          (8) Relating to court validation of a voluntary consent to foster care placement under chapter 13.34 RCW or relinquishment or consent to adoption under chapter 26.33 RCW, by the parent or Indian custodian of an Indian child, except if the parent or Indian custodian and child are residents of or domiciled within the boundaries of a federally recognized Indian reservation over which the tribe exercises exclusive jurisdiction.

 

          NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 13.34 RCW to read as follows:

          (1) Where any parent or Indian custodian voluntarily consents to foster care placement of an Indian child and a petition for dependency has not been filed regarding the child, such consent shall not be valid unless executed in writing before the court and filed with the court.  The consent shall be accompanied by the written certification of the court that the terms and consequences of the consent were fully explained in detail to the parent or Indian custodian during the court proceeding and were fully understood by the parent or Indian custodian.  The court shall also certify in writing either that the parent or Indian custodian fully understood the explanation in English or that it was interpreted into a language that the parent or Indian custodian understood.  Any consent given prior to, or within ten days after, the birth of the Indian child shall not be valid.

          (2) To obtain court validation of a voluntary consent to foster care placement, any person may file a petition for validation alleging that there is located or residing within the county an Indian child whose parent or Indian custodian wishes to voluntarily consent to foster care placement of the child and requesting that the court validate the consent as provided in this section.  The petition shall contain the name, date of birth, and residence of the child, the names and residences of the consenting parent or Indian custodian, and the name and location of the Indian tribe in which the child is a member or eligible for membership.  The petition shall state whether the placement preferences of 25 U.S.C. Sec. 1915 (b) or (c) will be followed.  Reasonable attempts shall be made by the petitioner to ascertain and set forth in the petition the identity, location, and custodial status of any parent or Indian custodian who has not consented to foster care placement and why that parent or Indian custodian cannot assume custody of the child.

          (3) Upon filing of the petition for validation, the clerk of the court shall schedule the petition for a hearing on the court validation of the voluntary consent no later than forty-eight hours after the petition has been filed, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.  Notification of time, date, location, and purpose of the validation hearing shall be provided as soon as possible to the consenting parent or Indian custodian, the department or other child-placing agency which is to assume custody of the child pursuant to the consent to foster care placement, and the Indian tribe in which the child is enrolled or eligible for enrollment as a member.  If the identity and location of any nonconsenting parent or Indian custodian is known, reasonable attempts shall be made to notify the parent or Indian custodian of the consent to placement and the validation hearing.  Notification under this subsection may be given by the most expedient means, including, but not limited to, mail, personal service, telephone, and telegraph.

          (4) Any parent or Indian custodian may withdraw consent to a voluntary foster  care placement, made under this section, at any time.  Unless the Indian child has been taken in custody pursuant to RCW 13.34.050 or 26.44.050, placed in shelter care pursuant to RCW 13.34.060, or placed in foster care pursuant to RCW 13.34.130, the Indian child shall be returned to the parent or Indian custodian upon withdrawal of consent to foster care placement of the child.

          (5) Upon termination of the voluntary foster care placement and return of the child to the parent or Indian custodian, the department or other child placing agency which had assumed custody of the child pursuant to the consent to foster care placement shall file with the court written notification of the child's return  and shall also send such notification to the Indian tribe in which the child is enrolled or eligible for enrollment as a member and to any other party to the validation proceeding including any noncustodial parent.

 

        Sec. 3.  Section 8, chapter 155, Laws of 1984 as amended by section 1, chapter 421, Laws of 1985 and RCW 26.33.080 are each amended to read as follows:

          (1) A parent, an alleged father, the department, or an agency may file with the court a petition to relinquish a child to the department or an agency.  The parent's or alleged father's written consent to adoption shall accompany the petition.  The written consent of the department or the agency to assume custody shall be filed with the petition.

          (2) A parent, alleged father, or prospective adoptive parent may file with the court a petition to relinquish a child to the prospective adoptive parent.  The parent's or alleged father's written consent to adoption shall accompany the petition.  The written consent of the prospective adoptive parent to assume custody shall be filed with the petition.  The identity of the prospective adoptive parent need not be disclosed to the petitioner.

          (3) A petition for relinquishment, together with the written consent to adoption, may be filed before the child's birth.  If the child is an Indian child as defined in 25 U.S.C. Sec. 1903(4), the petition and consent shall not be  signed until at least ten days after the child's birth and shall be recorded before a court of competent jurisdiction pursuant to 25 U.S.C. Sec. 1913(a).

 

        Sec. 4.  Section 9, chapter 155, Laws of 1984 as amended by section 2, chapter 421, Laws of 1985 and RCW 26.33.090 are each amended to read as follows:

          (1) The court shall set a time and place for a hearing on the petition for relinquishment.  The hearing may not be held sooner than forty-eight hours after the child's birth or the signing of all necessary consents to adoption, whichever is later.  However, if the child is an Indian child, the hearing shall not be held sooner than ten days after the child's birth, and no consent shall be valid unless signed at least ten days after the child's birth and recorded before a court of competent jurisdiction pursuant to 25 U.S.C. Sec. 1913(a).  Except where the child is an Indian child, the court may enter a temporary order giving custody of the child to the prospective adoptive parent, if a preplacement report has been filed, or to the department or agency to whom the child will be relinquished pending the court's hearing on the petition.  If the child is an Indian child, the court may  enter a temporary custody order under this subsection only if the requirements of 25 U.S.C. Sec. 1913(a) regarding voluntary foster care placement have been satisfied.

          (2) Notice of the hearing shall be served on any relinquishing parent or alleged father, and the department or agency in the manner prescribed by RCW 26.33.310.  If the child is an Indian child, notice of the hearing shall also be served on the child's tribe in the manner prescribed by RCW 26.33.310.

          (3) The court may require the parent to appear personally and enter his or her consent to adoption on the record.  However, if the child is an Indian child, the court shall require the consenting parent to appear personally before a court of competent jurisdiction to enter on the record his or her consent to the relinquishment or adoption.  The court shall determine that any written consent has been validly executed, and if the child is an Indian child, such court shall further certify that the requirements of 25 U.S.C. Sec. 1913(a) have been satisfied.  If the court determines it is in the best interests of the child, the court shall approve the petition for relinquishment.

          (4) If the court approves the petition, it shall award custody of the child to the department, agency, or prospective adoptive parent, who shall be appointed legal guardian.  The legal guardian shall be financially responsible for support of the child until further order of the court.  The court shall also enter an order pursuant to RCW 26.33.130 terminating the parent-child relationship of the parent and the child.

          (5) An order of relinquishment to an agency or the department shall include an order authorizing the agency to place the child with a prospective adoptive parent.

 

        Sec. 5.  Section 11, chapter 155, Laws of 1984 as amended by section 4, chapter 421, Laws of 1985 and RCW 26.33.110 are each amended to read as follows:

          (1) The court shall set a time and place for a hearing on the petition for termination of the parent-child relationship, which shall not be held sooner than forty-eight hours after the child's birth.  However, if the child is an Indian child, the hearing shall not be held sooner than ten days after the child's birth and the time of the hearing shall be extended up to twenty additional days from the date of the scheduled hearing upon the motion of the parent, Indian custodian, or the child's tribe.

          (2) Notice of the hearing shall be served on the petitioner, the nonconsenting parent or alleged father, the legal guardian of a party, and the guardian ad litem of a party, in the manner prescribed by RCW 26.33.310.  If the child is an Indian child, notice of the hearing shall also be served on the child's tribe in the manner prescribed by 25 U.S.C. Sec. 1912(a).

          (3) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the notice of the petition shall:

          (a) State the date and place of birth.  If the petition is filed prior to birth, the notice shall state the approximate date and location of conception of the child and the expected date of birth, and shall identify the mother;

          (b) Inform the nonconsenting parent or alleged father that:  (i) He or she has a right to be represented by counsel and that counsel will be appointed for an indigent person who requests counsel; and (ii) failure to respond to the termination action within twenty days of service will result in the termination of his or her parent-child relationship with respect to the child;

          (c) Inform an alleged father that failure to file a claim of paternity under chapter 26.26 RCW or to respond to the petition, within twenty days of the date of service of the petition is grounds to terminate his parent-child relationship with respect to the child;

          (d) Inform an alleged father of an Indian child that if he acknowledges paternity of the child or if his paternity of the child is established prior to the termination of the parent-child relationship, that his parental rights may not be terminated unless he:  (i) Gives valid consent to termination, or (ii) his parent-child relationship is terminated involuntarily pursuant to chapter 26.33 or 13.34 RCW.

 

        Sec. 6.  Section 12, chapter 155, Laws of 1984 and RCW 26.33.120 are each amended to read as follows:

          (1) Except in the case of an Indian child and his or her parent, the parent-child relationship of a parent may be terminated upon a showing by clear, cogent, and convincing evidence that it is in the best interest of the child to terminate the relationship and that the parent has failed to perform parental duties under circumstances showing a substantial lack of regard for his or her parental obligations and is withholding consent to adoption contrary to the best interest of the child.

          (2) Except in the case of an Indian child and his or her alleged father, the parent-child relationship of an alleged father who appears and claims paternity may be terminated upon a showing by clear, cogent, and convincing evidence that it is in the best interest of the child to terminate the relationship and that:

          (a) The alleged father has failed to perform parental duties under circumstances showing a substantial lack of regard for his parental obligations and is withholding consent to adoption contrary to the best interest of the child; or

          (b) He is not the father.

          (3) The parent-child relationship of a parent or an alleged father may be terminated if the parent or alleged father fails to appear after being notified of the hearing in the manner prescribed by RCW 26.33.310.

          (4) The parent-child relationship of an Indian child and his or her parent or alleged father where paternity has been claimed or established, may be terminated only pursuant to the standards set forth in 25 U.S.C. Sec. 1912(f).

 

        Sec. 7.  Section 16, chapter 155, Laws of 1984 as amended by section 5, chapter 421, Laws of 1985 and RCW 26.33.160 are each amended to read as follows:

          (1) Except as otherwise provided in RCW 26.33.170, consent to an adoption shall be required of the following if applicable:

          (a) The adoptee, if fourteen years of age or older;

          (b) The parents and any alleged father of an adoptee under eighteen years of age;

          (c) An agency or the department to whom the adoptee has been relinquished pursuant to RCW 26.33.080; and

          (d) The legal guardian of the adoptee.

          (2) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (4)(g) of this section, consent to adoption is revocable by the consenting party at any time before the consent is approved by the court.  The revocation may be made in either of the following ways:

          (a) Written revocation may be delivered or mailed to the clerk of the court before approval; or

          (b) Written revocation may be delivered or mailed to the clerk of the court after approval, but only if it is delivered or mailed within forty-eight hours after a prior notice of revocation that was given within forty-eight hours after the birth of the child.  The prior notice of revocation shall be given to the agency or person who sought the consent and may be either oral or written.

          (3) Except as provided in subsection (2)(b) and (4)(g) of this section and in this subsection, a consent to adoption may not be revoked after it has been approved by the court.  Within one year after approval, a consent may be revoked for fraud or duress practiced by the person, department, or agency requesting the consent, or for lack of mental competency on the part of the person giving the consent at the time the consent was given.  A written consent to adoption may not be revoked more than one year after it is approved by the court.

          (4) Except as provided in (g) of this subsection, the written consent to adoption shall be signed under penalty of perjury and shall state that:

          (a) It is given subject to approval of the court;

          (b) It has no force or effect until approved by the court;

          (c) The consent will not be presented to the court until forty-eight hours after it is signed or forty-eight hours after the birth of the child, whichever occurs later;

          (d) It is revocable by the consenting party at any time before its approval by the court.  It may be revoked in either of the following ways:

          (i) Written revocation may be delivered or mailed to the clerk of the court before approval of the consent by the court; or

          (ii) Written revocation may be delivered or mailed to the clerk of the court after approval, but only if it is delivered or mailed within forty-eight hours after a prior notice of revocation that was given within forty-eight hours after the birth of the child.  The prior notice of revocation shall be given to the agency or person who sought the consent and may be either oral or written;

           (e) The address of the clerk of court where the consent will be presented is included; ((and))

           (f) Except as provided in (g) of this subsection, after it has been approved by the court, the consent is not revocable except for fraud or duress practiced by the person, department, or agency requesting the consent or for lack of mental competency on the part of the person giving the consent at the time the consent was given.  A written consent to adoption may not be revoked more than one year after it is approved by the court; and

          (g) In the case of a consent to an adoption of an Indian child, no consent shall be valid unless the consent is executed in writing more than ten days after the birth of the child and unless the consent is recorded before a court of competent jurisdiction pursuant to 25 U.S.C. Sec. 1913(a).  Consent may be withdrawn for any reason at any time prior to the entry of the final decree of adoption.  Consent may be withdrawn for fraud or duress within two years of the entry of the final decree of adoption.  Revocation of the consent prior to a final decree of adoption, may be delivered or mailed to the clerk of the court or made orally to the court which shall certify such revocation.  Revocation of the consent is effective if received  by the clerk of the court prior to the entry of the final decree of adoption or made orally to the court at any time prior to the entry of the final decree of adoption.  Upon withdrawal of consent, the court shall return the child to the parent unless the child has been taken into custody pursuant to RCW 13.34.050 or 26.44.050, placed in shelter care pursuant to RCW 13.34.060, or placed in foster care pursuant to RCW 13.34.130.

          (5) A written consent to adoption which meets all the requirements of this chapter but which does not name or otherwise identify the adopting parent is valid if it contains a statement that it is voluntarily executed without disclosure of the name or other identification of the adopting parent.

 

        Sec. 8.  Section 23, chapter 155, Laws of 1984 and RCW 26.33.240 are each amended to read as follows:

          (1) After the reports required by RCW 26.33.190 and 26.33.200 have been filed, the court shall schedule a hearing on the petition for adoption upon request of the petitioner for adoption.  Notice of the date, time, and place of hearing shall be given to the petitioner and any person or agency whose consent to adoption is required under RCW 26.33.160, unless the person or agency has waived in writing the right to receive notice of the hearing.  If the child is an Indian child, notice shall also be given to the child's tribe.  Notice shall be given in the manner prescribed by RCW 26.33.310.

          (2) Notice of the adoption hearing shall also be given to any person who or agency which has prepared a preplacement report.  The notice shall be given in the manner prescribed by RCW 26.33.230.

          (3) If the court determines, after review of the petition, preplacement and post-placement reports, and other evidence introduced at the hearing, that all necessary consents to adoption are valid or have been dispensed with pursuant to RCW 26.33.170 and that the adoption is in the best interest of the adoptee, and, in the case of an adoption of an Indian child, that the adoptive parents are within the placement preferences of 25 U.S.C. Sec. 1915 or good cause to the contrary has been shown on the record, the court shall enter a decree of adoption pursuant to RCW 26.33.250.

          (4) If the court determines the petition should not be granted because the adoption is not in the best interest of the child, the court shall make appropriate provision for the care and custody of the child.

 

        Sec. 9.  Section 31, chapter 155, Laws of 1984 as amended by section 6, chapter 421, Laws of 1985 and RCW 26.33.310 are each amended to read as follows:

          (1) Petitions governed by this chapter shall be served in the same manner as a complaint in a civil action under the superior court civil rules.  Subsequent notice, papers, and pleadings may be served in the manner provided in superior court civil rules.

          (2) If personal service on the parent or any alleged father, either within or without this state, cannot be given, notice shall be given:  (a) By registered mail, mailed at least twenty days before the hearing to the person's last known address; and (b) by publication at least once a week for three consecutive weeks with the first publication date at least twenty- five days before the hearing.  Publication shall be in a legal newspaper in the city or town of the last known address within the United States and its territories of the parent or alleged father, whether within or without this state, or, if no address is known or the last known address is not within the United States and its territories, in the city or town where the proceeding has been commenced.

          (3) Notice and appearance may be waived by the department, an agency, a parent, or an alleged father before the court or in a writing signed under penalty of perjury.  The waiver shall contain the current address of the department, agency, parent, or alleged father.  The face of the waiver for a hearing on termination of the parent-child relationship shall contain language explaining the meaning and consequences of the waiver and the meaning and consequences of termination of the parent-child relationship.  A person or agency who has executed a waiver shall not be required to appear except in the case of an Indian child where consent to termination or adoption must be certified before a court of competent jurisdiction pursuant to 25 U.S.C. Sec. 1913(a).

          (4) If a person entitled to notice is known to the petitioner to be unable to read or understand English, all notices, if practicable, shall be given in that person's native language or through an interpreter.

          (5) Where notice to an Indian tribe is to be provided pursuant to this chapter and the department is not a party to the proceeding, notice shall be given to the tribe at least ten business days prior to the hearing by registered mail return receipt requested.

 

        Sec. 10.  Section 17, chapter 172, Laws of 1967 as last amended by section 4, chapter 246, Laws of 1983 and RCW 74.13.031 are each amended to read as follows:

          The department shall have the duty to provide child welfare services as defined in RCW 74.13.020, and shall:

          (1) Develop, administer, supervise, and monitor a coordinated and comprehensive plan that establishes, aids, and strengthens services for the protection and care of homeless, runaway, dependent, or neglected children.

          (2) Develop a recruiting plan for recruiting an adequate number of prospective adoptive and foster homes, both regular and specialized, i.e. homes for children of ethnic minority, including Indian homes for Indian children, sibling groups, handicapped and emotionally disturbed, and annually submit the plan for review to the house and senate committees on social and health services.  The plan shall include a section entitled "Foster Home Turn-Over, Causes and Recommendations."

          (3) Investigate complaints of neglect, abuse, or abandonment of children, and on the basis of the findings of such investigation, offer child welfare services in relation to the problem to such parents, legal custodians, or persons serving in loco parentis, and/or bring the situation to the attention of an appropriate court, or another community agency:  PROVIDED, That an investigation is not required of nonaccidental injuries which are clearly not the result of a lack of care or supervision by the child's parents, legal custodians, or persons serving in loco parentis.  If the investigation reveals that a crime may have been committed, the department shall notify the appropriate law enforcement agency.

          (4) Offer, on a voluntary basis, family reconciliation services to families who are in conflict.

         

          (5) Monitor out-of-home placements, on a timely and routine basis, to assure the safety, well-being, and quality of care being provided is within the scope of the intent of the legislature as defined in RCW 74.13.010 and 74.15.010, and annually submit a report delineating the results to the house and senate committees on social and health services.

          (6) Have authority to accept custody of children from parents and to accept custody of children from juvenile courts, where authorized to do so under law, to provide child welfare services including placement for adoption, and to provide for the physical care of such children and make payment of maintenance costs if needed.  Except where required by Public Law 95-608 (25 U.S.C. Sec. 1915), no private adoption agency which receives children for adoption from the department shall discriminate on the basis of race, creed, or color when considering applications in their placement for adoption.

          (7) Have authority to provide temporary shelter to children who have run away from home and who are admitted to crisis residential centers.

          (8) Have authority to purchase care for children; and shall follow in general the policy of using properly approved private agency services for the actual care and supervision of such children insofar as they are available, paying for care of such children as are accepted by the department as eligible for support at reasonable rates established by the department.

          (9) Establish a children's services advisory committee which shall assist the secretary in the development of a partnership plan for utilizing resources of the public and private sectors, and advise on all matters pertaining to child welfare, day care, licensing of child care agencies, and services related thereto.  At least one-third of the membership shall be composed of child care providers.

          (10) Have authority to provide continued foster care or group care for individuals from eighteen through twenty years of age to enable them to complete their high school or vocational school program.

          (11) Have authority to purchase care for Indian children who are in the custody of a federally recognized Indian tribe or tribally licensed child-placing agency pursuant to parental consent, tribal court order, or state juvenile court order; and the purchase of such care shall be subject to the same eligibility standards and rates of support applicable to other children for whom the department purchases care.

          Notwithstanding any other provision of RCW 13.32A.170 through 13.32A.200 and RCW 74.13.032 through 74.13.036, or of this section all services to be provided by the department of social and health services under subsections (4), (6), and (7) of this section, subject to the limitations of these subsections, may be provided by any program offering such services funded pursuant to Titles II and III of the federal juvenile justice and delinquency prevention act of 1974 (P.L. No. 93-415; 42 U.S.C. 5634 et seq.; and 42 U.S.C. 5701 note as amended by P.L. 94-273, 94-503, and 95-115).

 

        Sec. 11.  Section 2, chapter 118, Laws of 1982 and RCW 74.13.080 are each amended to read as follows:

          The department shall not make payment for any child in group care placement unless the group home is licensed and the department has the custody of the child and the authority to remove the child in a cooperative manner after at least seventy-two hours notice to the child care provider; such notice may be waived in emergency situations.  However, this requirement shall not be construed to prohibit the department from making payment for Indian children placed in facilities licensed by federally recognized Indian tribes pursuant to chapter 74.15 RCW.

 

        Sec. 12.  Section 2, chapter 172, Laws of 1967 as last amended by section 5, chapter 118, Laws of 1982 and RCW 74.15.020 are each amended to read as follows:

          For the purpose of chapter 74.15 RCW and RCW 74.13.031, and unless otherwise clearly indicated by the context thereof, the following terms shall mean:

          (1) "Department" means the state department of social and health services;

          (2) "Secretary" means the secretary of social and health services;

          (3) "Agency" means any person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, or facility which receives children, expectant mothers, or developmentally disabled persons for control, care, or maintenance outside their own homes, or which places, arranges the placement of, or assists in the placement of children, expectant mothers, or developmentally disabled persons for foster care or placement of children for adoption, and shall include the following irrespective of whether there is compensation to the agency or to the children, expectant mothers or developmentally disabled persons for services rendered:

          (a) "Group-care facility" means an agency, other than a foster-family home, which is maintained and operated for the care of a group of children on a twenty-four hour basis;

          (b) "Child-placing agency" means an agency which places a child or children for temporary care, continued care, or for adoption;

          (c) "Maternity service" means an agency which provides or arranges for care or services to expectant mothers, before or during confinement, or which provides care as needed to mothers and their infants after confinement;

          (d) "Day-care center" means an agency which regularly provides care for a group of children for periods of less than twenty-four hours;

          (e) "Foster-family home" means an agency which regularly provides care on a twenty-four hour basis to one or more children, expectant mothers or developmentally disabled persons in the family abode of the person or persons under whose direct care and supervision the child, expectant mother or developmentally disabled person is placed;

          (f) "Crisis residential center" means an agency which is a temporary protective residential facility operated to perform the duties specified in chapter 13.32A RCW, in the manner provided in RCW 74.13.032 through 74.13.036.

          (4) "Agency" shall not include the following:

          (a) Persons related by blood or marriage to the child, expectant mother or developmentally disabled persons in the following degrees:  Parent, grandparent, brother, sister, stepparent, stepbrother, stepsister, uncle, aunt, and/or first cousin;

          (b) Persons who are legal guardians of the child, expectant mother or developmentally disabled persons;

          (c) Persons who care for a neighbor's or friend's child or children, with or without compensation, where the person does not engage in such activity on a regular basis, or where parents on a mutually cooperative basis exchange care of one another's children, or persons who have the care of an exchange student in their own home;

          (d) Nursery schools or kindergartens which are engaged primarily in educational work with preschool children and in which no child is enrolled on a regular basis for more than four hours per day;

          (e) Schools, including boarding schools, which are engaged primarily in education, operate on a definite school year schedule, follow a stated academic curriculum, accept only school-age children and do not accept custody of children;

          (f) Seasonal camps of three months' or less duration engaged primarily in recreational or educational activities;

          (g) Hospitals licensed pursuant to chapter 70.41 RCW when performing functions defined in chapter 70.41 RCW, nursing homes licensed under chapter 18.51 RCW and boarding homes licensed under chapter 18.20 RCW;

          (h) Licensed physicians or lawyers;

          (i) Facilities providing care to children for periods of less than twenty-four hours whose parents remain on the premises to participate in activities other than employment;

          (j) Facilities approved and certified under RCW 72.33.810;

          (k) Any agency having been in operation in this state ten years prior to June 8, 1967, and not seeking or accepting moneys or assistance from any state or federal agency, and is supported in part by an endowment or trust fund;

          (l) Persons who have a child in their home for purposes of adoption, if the child was placed in such home by a licensed child-placing agency, an authorized public or tribal agency or court or if a preplacement report has been filed under chapter 26.33 RCW and the placement has been approved by the court;

          (m) An agency operated by any unit of local, state, or federal government or an agency, located within the boundaries of a federally recognized Indian reservation, licensed by the Indian tribe;

          (n) An agency located on a federal military reservation, except where the military authorities request that such agency be subject to the licensing requirements of this chapter. (5) "Requirement" means any rule, regulation or standard of care to be maintained by an agency.

 

          NEW SECTION.  Sec. 13.  A new section is added to chapter 74.15 RCW to read as follows:

          The state of Washington recognizes the authority of Indian tribes within the state to license agencies, located within the boundaries of a federally recognized Indian reservation, to receive children for control, care, and maintenance outside their own homes, or to place, receive, arrange the placement of, or assist in the placement of children for foster care or adoption.  The department and state licensed child-placing agencies may place children in tribally licensed facilities if the requirements of RCW 74.15.030(2)(b) and (3) and supporting rules are satisfied  before placing the children in such facilities by the department or any state licensed child-placing agency.

 

        Sec. 14.  Section 9, chapter 172, Laws of 1967 as last amended by section 10, chapter 118, Laws of 1982 and RCW 74.15.090 are each amended to read as follows:

          Except as provided in section 13 of this 1987 act, it shall hereafter be unlawful for any agency to receive children, expectant mothers or developmentally disabled persons for supervision or care, or arrange for the placement of such persons, unless such agency is licensed as provided in chapter 74.15 RCW.

 

          NEW SECTION.  Sec. 15.    If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.

 

          NEW SECTION.  Sec. 16.    Sections 10 and 11 of this act shall take effect July 1, 1988.