HOUSE BILL REPORT

E2SSB 6537

BYSenate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators Smith, Stratton, Vognild, Bailey, Craswell and Rasmussen)

Providing for foster care reform and making appropriations.

House Committe on Human Services

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.  (10)

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

House Staff:Dave Knutson (786-7146)

Rereferred House Committee on Appropriations

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended by Committee on Human Services as such amendment is amended by Committee on Appropriations.  (23)

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

House Staff:      Michelle Hauth (786-7136)

AS PASSED HOUSE MARCH 2, 1990

BACKGROUND:

Foster parents are forced to contend with inadequate training, low reimbursement rates, and isolation from other social service workers.  Preservice and continuing training of foster parents can create a stable and high quality foster care system.  Regular on-site monitoring of foster care can improve quality assurance and lead to better care.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Social and Health Services is required to offer mandatory preservice training for licensed foster parent applicants.  The department must monitor a minimum of 10 percent of licensed family foster homes.

The department will contract for a comprehensive evaluation of protective services, child welfare services and foster care programs on an ongoing basis.  The department will develop a program for respite care for foster parents who care for special needs children.

Whenever a child is placed in out-of-home care by the department or by an agency, the department and the agency may share information about the child with the care provider.  Confidentiality provisions are included.

To provide stability for the child, the department is instructed, within certain limitations, to consider the initial placement of the child as the only placement.  To minimize disruption, the department must, within certain limitations, notify the foster family at least five days prior to the planned removal of the child from the foster home.

Additional training must be offered to foster parents who are willing to care for children with emotional, mental or physical handicaps.

The department is required to consider the wishes of the natural parent regarding family constellation, ethnicity and religion when placing a child in foster care.

The department will hire an administrator for a statewide recruitment program for foster care and adoptive homes.  Expansion of the foster adopt program is mandated statewide.  The department is required to assist foster and adoptive agencies with printing of informational materials.  A report to the Legislature on why foster parents leave the program is required by December 1991.

Sections 2, 4, 6, 8, 13, 15, 16, 17, 19, 21, 25, 26 and 27 are made contingent upon funding in the budget.

The department must establish a statewide program to manage health services for children in foster care.  This program will include strategies for reimbursement using prospective payment or capitation methods.

Liability settlements or judgments against foster parents are included within the state treasury liability account.

Fiscal Note:      Available.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    (Human Services)  Dawn English, foster parent; Judith Golphence, foster parent; Margaret Casey, Washington Catholic Conference; Gary Alexander, Risk Management Office (with amendments); Barret and Patricia Knudsen; Laurie Lippold, Children's Home Society; and Mike Redman, Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys.

(Appropriations)  No one.

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

(Appropriations)  No one.

House Committee - Testimony For:    (Human Services)  Foster parents need additional training, higher reimbursement rates, and additional support services.

(Appropriations)  None.

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

(Appropriations)  None.

VOTE ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      Yeas 97 - 3/2