SENATE 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.

Senate Committee on Children & Family Services

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 16, 1990; January 22, 1990

Majority Report:     That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6537 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

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

Senate Staff:Jan Sharar (786-7747)

                January 25, 1990

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 5, 1990; February 6, 1990

Majority Report:     That Second Substitute Senate Bill No. 6537 be substituted therefor, and the second substitute bill do pass.

     Signed by Senators McDonald, Chairman; Craswell, Vice Chairman; Amondson, Bailey, Bauer, Bluechel, Cantu, Gaspard, Hayner, Johnson, Lee, Moore, Newhouse, Niemi, Smith, Talmadge, Williams, Wojahn.

Senate Staff:Karen Hayes (786-7711)

                March 5, 1990

House Committe on Human Services

Rereferred House Committee on Appropriations

AS PASSED SENATE, FEBRUARY 12, 1990

BACKGROUND:

Due to reports of deterioration in the foster care program and alarming foster care budget overruns, the Governor established a Task Force on Foster Care to review the foster care delivery system and department policies.  The report included 20 recommendations regarding the foster care delivery system.

The United States Congress published a report by the United States General Accounting Office, "Foster Parents Recruiting and Preservice Training Practices Need Evaluation," that has many recommendations concerning training, teamwork, reimbursement rates, respite care and recruitment.

Experts believe foster parents should be assisted in developing their ability to care for more difficult children with emotional and physical handicaps.

Experts also believe preservice and continuing training of foster parents is key to creating a stable and high quality foster care system.  Quality assurance can also be enhanced through a regular sample on-site monitoring program which is designed to identify problems and obstacles to better care.

SUMMARY:

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

DSHS shall contract for a comprehensive evaluation of protective services, child welfare services and foster care programs on an ongoing basis.  DSHS is to 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 DSHS or by an agency, DSHS and the agency may share information about the child with the care provider.  Confidentiality provisions are included.

To provide stability for the child, DSHS is instructed, within certain limitations, to consider the initial placement of the child as the only placement.  To minimize disruption, DSHS 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.

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

DSHS is required to hire an administrator for a statewide recruitment program for foster care and adoptive homes.  Expansion of the foster adopt program is mandated statewide.  DSHS is required to assist foster and adoptive agencies with printing of 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, 18, 20, 25, 26 and 27 are made contingent upon funding in the budget.

DSHS is required to establish a statewide program to manage health services for children in foster care.  This program is to 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.  If sufficient funds are not available in the account for these purposes, DSHS shall provide liability insurance within limitations to licensed foster parents.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:   none

Fiscal Note:    available

Effective Date:July 1, 1990

Senate Committee - Testified:   CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES:  FOR:  Greg Holmquist; Barrett Knudsen; NEUTRAL:  Jim Legaz and Darlene Flowers, Catholic Community Services; Bonnie Northcott, Linda Holcomb, Carla Ashton, Josef Shaffer, Clark County Foster Parents Association; James Upton; Katharine Briar, DSHS

Senate Committee - Testified:   WAYS & MEANS:  Julia Calhoun, Foster Parents Association (pro); Katherine Briar, DSHS (neutral); Judy Golphenee, Foster Parents Association (pro)

HOUSE AMENDMENT:

Language requiring DSHS to provide liability insurance if adequate funds are not available for coverage in the state liability account is deleted.  Appropriateness is added to the conditions under which foster parents, if they desire to, may be involved in the reunification of the child with his or her family.