H-1813              _______________________________________________

                                          SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL NO. 1183

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State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1989 Regular Session

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

Read first time 2/20/89.

AN ACT Relating to information provided to adopting parents; amending RCW 26.33.350; and adding new sections to chapter 26.33 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

        Sec. 1.  Section 37, chapter 155, Laws of 1984 and RCW 26.33.350 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Every person, firm, society, association, or corporation receiving, securing a home for, or otherwise caring for a minor child shall transmit to the prospective adopting parent prior to placement and shall make available to all persons with whom a child has been placed by adoption a complete medical report containing all ((reasonably)) available information concerning the mental, physical, and sensory handicaps of the child.  The report shall not reveal the identity of the natural parents of the child but shall include any ((reasonably)) available mental or physical health history of the natural parents that needs to be known by the adoptive parents to facilitate proper health care for the child.

(2) The medical report shall include the results of a comprehensive medical evaluation of the child which includes:

(a) A review of the birth family's and the child's previous medical history, if available, including x-rays, examinations, hospitalizations, and immunizations;

(b) A physical exam of the child by a licensed medical practitioner with appropriate laboratory tests and x-rays;

(c) A referral to a specialist if indicated; and

(d) A written copy of the evaluation with recommendations to the adoptive family receiving the report.

(3) The prospective adoptive parent shall contribute to the state share of the cost of any medical examination required under subsection (2) of this section based on ability to pay under a sliding scale fee schedule approved by the department.  Fees shall not exceed the actual cost of care.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.     Every person, firm, society, association, or corporation receiving, securing a home for, or otherwise caring for a minor child shall transmit to the prospective adopting parent prior to placement and shall make available to all persons with whom a child has been placed by adoption, a complete family background and child and family social history report, which includes a chronological history of the circumstances surrounding the adoptive placement and any available psychiatric reports, psychological reports, court reports pertaining to dependency or custody, or school reports.  Such reports or information shall not reveal the identity of the natural parents of the child.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.     All families adopting a child through the department shall receive written information on the department's adoption-related services including, but not limited to, adoption support, family reconciliation services, archived records, mental health, and developmental disabilities.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.     Sections 2 and 3 of this act are each added to chapter 26.33 RCW.