HOUSE BILL REPORT

EHB 2602

As Amended by the Senate

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

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (11)

      Signed by Representatives Sayan, Chair; Scott, Vice Chair; Moyer, Ranking Republican Member; Tate, Assistant Ranking Republican Member; Anderson, Brekke, Hargrove, Leonard, Raiter, Padden and Winsley.

House Staff:Dave Knutson (786-7146)

Rereferred House Committee on Appropriations

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (28)

      Signed by Representatives Locke, Chair; Grant, Vice Chair; H. Sommers, Vice Chair; Silver, Ranking Republican Member; Youngsman, Assistant Ranking Republican Member; Appelwick, Belcher, Bowman, Brekke, Dorn, Doty, Ebersole, Ferguson, Hine, Holland, Inslee, May, McLean, Nealey, Padden, Peery, Rust, Sayan, Spanel, Sprenkle, Valle, Wang and Wineberry.

House Staff:      Maureen Morris (786-7152)

AS PASSED HOUSE FEBRUARY 9, 1990

BACKGROUND:

In Washington state each year, under 5 percent of pregnant teenagers relinquish their babies for adoption.  Agencies which offer pregnancy information and counseling often do not have a full understanding of adoption.  Birth parents frequently are unaware of their ability to be actively involved in the process of choosing adoptive parents or to maintain some connection with their child or their child's adoptive parents, through exchange of information, communication or contact.  Indigent pregnant women are eligible for a state-funded program providing income assistance benefits.  If an indigent women 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.  Special needs children face many barriers to being adopted.

SUMMARY:

Agreements regarding communication with or contact between child adoptees, adoptive parents, and birth parents are authorized. Failure to comply with an agreed order regarding communication or contact is not grounds for setting aside an adoption.  The court cannot modify an agreed order unless it is in the best interests of the child and the modification is agreed to by the adoptive and birth parents.  Indigent women receiving general assistance, who relinquish their babies for adoption, will continue to receive income assistance benefits for six weeks following the birth of her child.  Funding is appropriated to provide adoption training for agencies offering pregnancy information and counseling, to provide enhanced adoption services for special needs children, and to provide extended general assistance benefits.

EFFECT OF SENATE AMENDMENTS:  The statutory authority to enter into agreements regarding communication with or contact between child adoptees, adoptive parents, and birth parents is removed.  Funding and authority to provide adoption training for agencies offering pregnancy information and counseling is removed.  A reconsideration program to provide medical and counseling services for children of families who apply for service after the adoption is final, is established.  The program will apply retroactively to January 1, 1987.

Appropriation:    $385,000 General Fund-State is appropriated to the Department of Social and Health Services.

Fiscal Note:      Requested January 10, 1990.

Effective Date:The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    (Human Services)  Representative Hine, prime sponsor; Joyce Hopson, Department of Social and Health Services; Laurie Lippold, Children's Home Society; Margaret Casey; Mark Demaray and Marlene Funk.

(Appropriations)  Laurie Lippold, Children's Home Society; and Margaret Casey, Washington Catholic Conference.

House Committee - Testified Against:      (Human Services)  No one.

(Appropriations)  No one.

House Committee - Testimony For:    (Human Services)  Developing a way for birth parents and adoptive parents to reach agreements on communication and contact regarding adopted children will facilitate adoptions.  Additional training on adoption as an option for agencies providing pregnancy counseling will help birth parents make more informed decisions about their child.  Transitional general assistance benefits will help birth mothers who relinquish their child for adoption get on with their lives. Additional support is needed to encourage adoptions of children with special needs.

(Appropriations)  The bill will help child placing agencies find homes for older children, handicapped children, minority children, and sibling groups.  There are a number of these hard to place children awaiting adoption.  This bill will remove barriers to adoption and is badly needed.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      (Human Services)  None.

(Appropriations)  None.

VOTE ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      Yeas 95; Excused 3

Excused:    Representatives Basich, Chandler, Sommers D.