HOUSE BILL REPORT

SSCR 8429

BYSenators Smith, Vognild, Bailey, Stratton and Conner

Creating the Washington State Adoption Commission.

House Committe on Human Services

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (8)

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

House Staff:Dave Knutson (786-7146)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES FEBRUARY 28, 1990

BACKGROUND:

Almost half of the adoptions which take place in Washington are done by independent adoption facilitators who are usually attorneys or doctors.  Neither professional group has any formalized education or training requirements for handling adoptions. Adoption experts believe the families involved in independent adoptions would benefit if the facilitators were educated about, and required to provide pre and post adoption services.

SUMMARY:

The Washington State Adoption Commission will be comprised of two members of the Senate, two members of the House of Representatives, and one member from the Washington State Bar Association, the Washington State Medical Association and the Office of Administrator for the Courts.  Four members of the Washington State Adoption Council are to be appointed to the commission.

The Department of Social and Health Services will appoint one representative of that agency to the commission.  The department will appoint two representatives to the commission from licensed private adoption agencies.  One member will be from eastern Washington and one will be from western Washington.  They must also represent infant, minority, special needs, in-country and out-of-country adoptions.

Funding for the per diem and travel expenses of the commission will be paid jointly by the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The commission will cease to exist at the conclusion of the legislative session in 1992.

Fiscal Note:      Available.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Maureen Trudell, Foster Parents Association; Mark Demaray; Jane Belt; Laurie Lippold, Children's Home Society; Margaret Casey, Washington State Catholic Conference; and Michael Curtis.

House Committee - Testified Against:      No one.

House Committee - Testimony For:    An independent commission should recommend guidelines for standards of practice for adoptions handled in Washington state.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None.