FINAL BILL REPORT

HB 2602

PARTIAL VETO

                                  C 285 L 90

BYRepresentatives Hine, Moyer, Rayburn, Belcher, Scott, Brooks, Heavey, Nutley, Sayan, Fraser, Miller, Dorn, Rasmussen, Hargrove, G. Fisher, R. Fisher, Rector, Leonard, Wineberry, Brough, Sprenkle, Cole, Jones, Dellwo, Haugen, Day, Ebersole, Anderson, Peery, P. King, Basich, Valle, Wang, Phillips, Winsley, Kremen, Padden, Smith, Forner, Tate, Vekich, Wood, Wolfe, D. Sommers, R. King, Van Luven, Brekke, Bowman, Morris, Cooper, H. Myers, Walker, Todd and Spanel.

Changing provisions relating to support services for adoptions.

House Committe on Human Services

Rereferred House Committee on Appropriations

Senate Committee on Children & Family Services

SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

BACKGROUND:

Each year in Washington state less than 5 percent of pregnant teenagers relinquish their babies for adoption.  Adoption records are sealed by the court and information in the records may be released only under limited circumstances.  An indigent pregnant woman is eligible for a state-funded program providing income assistance benefits.  If an indigent woman decides to parent her child, she receives Aid to Families with Dependent Children benefits when the baby is born.  If she decides to relinquish her baby for adoption, her income assistance benefits are terminated the month of the baby's birth.

The Department of Social and Health Services operates an adoption support program to assist in the placement of hard to place children. Some adoptive parents discover medical or psychological problems experienced by their adopted child after the adoption is final. The adoption support program is available only to prospective parents who lack the financial means to fully care for the child.  The department may pay some or all of the cost of an adoption proceeding for a parent who does not have the financial means to pay the full costs of the proceeding.

SUMMARY:

The birth parents and adoptive parents of a child may enter into an agreement concerning communication with or contact between the child, the adoptive parents, and the birth parents.  The agreement must be set forth in a court order.  Failure by an adoptive parent to comply with an agreed order regarding communication or contact is not grounds for setting aside an adoption.  The court may not modify an agreement unless it is in the best interests of the child and the modification is agreed to by the adoptive and birth parents.

An indigent woman receiving general assistance, who relinquishes her child for adoption, will continue to receive income assistance benefits for six weeks following the birth of her child.  A reconsideration program is established to provide medical and counseling services for children of families who apply for services after the adoption is final.  The department shall report to the 1991 Legislature regarding this program.

The restriction in the adoption support program to prospective parents who lack financial means to fully care for the child is removed.  The department may pay all or part of the nonrecurring adoption expenses incurred by the adoptive parent.  This authority is retroactive to January 1, 1987.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      House 95   0

      Senate    44     4 (Senate amended)

      House             (House refused to concur)

Free Conference Committee

      Senate    29    18

      House 97   0

EFFECTIVE:June 7, 1990

Partial Veto Summary:  The definition of birth parent was vetoed by the governor to avoid a conflict with an earlier definition included in legislation previously enacted during the 1990 legislative session.  (See VETO MESSAGE)