SENATE BILL REPORT
SSB 5214
BYSenate Committee on Children & Family Services (originally sponsored by Senator Smith)
Mandating abuse and neglect reporting.
Senate Committee on Children & Family Services
Senate Hearing Date(s):January 31, 1989; February 15, 1989
Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5214 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.
Signed by Senators Smith, Chairman; Craswell, Vice Chairman; Bailey, Stratton, Vognild.
Senate Staff:Jennifer Strus (786-7472)
March 16, 1989
AS PASSED SENATE, MARCH 15, 1989
BACKGROUND:
Current law states that when someone has reasonable cause to believe that a child, dependent adult or developmentally disabled person has been abused or neglected, he or she can report it to either a law enforcement agency or the Department of Social and Health Services.
The concern is that if the Department of Social and Health Services does not contact a law enforcement agency shortly after receiving a report of abuse or neglect, valuable physical evidence of the abuse or neglect can be lost, interfering with the state's ability to prosecute.
SUMMARY:
The Department of Social and Health Services shall notify the proper law enforcement agency within 24 hours of an emergency case of abuse or neglect of a child, adult dependent or developmentally disabled person. In all other cases, the department shall notify the proper enforcement agency within 72 hours. If the department's initial report to law enforcement is oral, it shall provide law enforcement with a written report within five days of making the oral report.
A law enforcement agency shall notify the Department of Social and Health Services within 24 hours of emergency cases of abuse or neglect and the disposition of those cases. In all other cases, law enforcement shall notify the department within 72 hours.
Appropriation: none
Revenue: none
Fiscal Note: available
Senate Committee - Testified: Katherine Brier, Department of Social and Health Services; Ted Jacoby, Seattle Police Department (con)