SENATE BILL REPORT

SHB 1183

BYHouse Committee on Human Services (originally sponsored by Representatives Kremen, Bristow, Patrick, Scott, Holland, Leonard, Braddock, Brekke, Zellinsky, Phillips, Spanel, Silver and Wineberry)

Requiring that certain information be provided to adopting parents.

House Committe on Human Services

Senate Committee on Children & Family Services

Senate Hearing Date(s):March 21, 1989; March 30, 1989

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

      Signed by Senators Smith, Chairman; Craswell, Vice Chairman; Bailey, Vognild.

Senate Staff:Carol Pedigo (786-7417)

                  March 30, 1989

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES, MARCH 30, 1989

BACKGROUND:

Currently, adoption agencies and persons responsible for a private adoption are required to provide all reasonably available medical information on a child to the child's prospective adoptive parents, but no new medical examination and evaluation is required.  The report is to include any reasonably available medical history of the natural parents which is necessary for the health care of the child, but complete background information on the natural parents is not required.

Special financial assistance is available through the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) for adoptive children with special medical or emotional needs.  This assistance is only provided if applied for at the time of adoption.  Proponents of the bill believe that adoptive parents should be aware of any possible medical complications involved with their prospective adoptive child so they can make application for this financial assistance if necessary.

Some adoptive families have complained that they were not made aware of the variety of adoption related services available to them through DSHS.

SUMMARY:

The medical report required on an adoptive child is expanded to include the results of a comprehensive medical evaluation and a written report of the evaluation.  This evaluation is to be done by a licensed medical practitioner and must include a report of the child's and natural parent's medical history, if available.  The costs of the medical examination is to be paid, at least in part, by the prospective adoptive parent, based on their ability to pay, determined by a sliding scale approved by the Department of Social and Health Services.

A second report on family background, social and psychological history, and any court action regarding the child is also required.

DSHS is required to provide written information on the department's adoption related services to all families adopting a child through them.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      available

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED SENATE AMENDMENTS:

The language no longer stipulates that the medical report must include a comprehensive medical evaluation, but instead requires a family history and a physical examination, if available.

The language in the bill requiring costs of the examination to be paid by the adoptive family on a sliding scale is eliminated.

Senate Committee - Testified: Ralph Munro, Secretary of State; Jane Belt, Washington Adoptive Rights Movement (pro); Laurie Lippold, Children's Home Society (pro); John Dziedzic, Secretary of State's office (pro); Representative Pete Kremen (pro); Representative Steve Fuhrman (pro)