AN ACT Relating to consideration of minority race or minority ethnic heritage in adoptions and foster care placement; amending RCW 26.33.240, 13.32A.170, 26.33.020, and 74.15.030; reenacting and amending RCW 13.34.130 and 74.13.031; adding a new section to chapter 26.33 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 74.15 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 13.34 RCW; and adding a new section to chapter 13.32A RCW.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 26.33 RCW to read as follows:

(1) The policy of the state of Washington is to ensure that the best interests of the child are met by requiring due consideration of the child's race, ethnic and cultural heritage, or parental preference in adoptive placements by the department or by child-placing agencies. For purposes of intercountry adoptions, due consideration is deemed to have occurred if the appropriate authority in the child's country of birth has approved the placement of the child. If the department of social and health services or other child-placing agency fails to identify a suitable family within ninety days, placement with a family of another racial or cultural and ethnic background may be considered.

(2) To ensure the child's race or ethnic and cultural identity shall be maintained and enhanced, child-placing agencies shall give due consideration in the following order, to placing the child with:

(a) A person or persons related by blood to the child, or, if that would be detrimental to the child or a relative is not available;

(b) A family with the same racial or ethnic heritage of the child, or, if that is not feasible;

(c) A family of different racial or ethnic heritage from the child which is knowledgeable and appreciative of the child's racial or ethnic and cultural heritage. Such a family should be willing and capable of educating and exposing the child to his or her race or ethnic and cultural heritage and enabling the child to continue such education and exposure throughout the length of time the family has custody of the child.

(3) If the child's natural parent or parents express a preference for the placement of the child with a particular adoptive family or in a home of particular characteristics, the agency shall give consideration to that preference.

(4) For the purpose of applying the placement requirements set forth in this section and absent a compelling reason to the contrary, determination of a child's race or ethnic and cultural heritage shall be made in accordance with the designation of the child's custodial parent or, if the child is age thirteen or older, the designation of the child.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 74.15 RCW to read as follows:

Child-placing agencies shall make special efforts to recruit adoptive or foster families from among the child's relatives and among families of the same racial or ethnic heritage as the children served by such agencies. Special efforts include contacting and working with community organizations and religious organizations, utilizing local media and other local resources, and conducting outreach activities.

Sec. 3. Section 23, chapter 155, Laws of 1984 as amended by section 8, chapter 170, Laws of 1987 and RCW 26.33.240 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) After the reports required by RCW 26.33.190 and 26.33.200 have been filed, the court shall schedule a hearing on the petition for adoption upon request of the petitioner for adoption. Notice of the date, time, and place of hearing shall be given to the petitioner and any person or agency whose consent to adoption is required under RCW 26.33.160, unless the person or agency has waived in writing the right to receive notice of the hearing. If the child is an Indian child, notice shall also be given to the child's tribe. Notice shall be given in the manner prescribed by RCW 26.33.310.

(2) Notice of the adoption hearing shall also be given to any person who or agency which has prepared a preplacement report. The notice shall be given in the manner prescribed by RCW 26.33.230.

(3) If the court determines, after review of the petition, preplacement and post-placement reports, and other evidence introduced at the hearing, that (a) all necessary consents to adoption are valid or have been dispensed with pursuant to RCW 26.33.170 ((~~and that~~)); (b) the adoption is in the best interest of the adoptee((,)); (c) children who are placed by a child-placing agency were placed in accordance with section 1 of this 1989 act; and((,)) (d) in the case of an adoption of an Indian child, that the adoptive parents are within the placement preferences of 25 U.S.C. Sec. 1915 or good cause to the contrary has been shown on the record, the court shall enter a decree of adoption pursuant to RCW 26.33.250.

(4) If the court determines the petition should not be granted because the adoption is not in the best interest of the child, the court shall make appropriate provision for the care and custody of the child.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 13.34 RCW to read as follows:

(1) The policy of the state of Washington is to ensure that the best interests of the child are met by giving high priority to the child's race, ethnic and cultural heritage, or parental preference in out-of-home placements ordered pursuant to RCW 13.34.130(1)(b).

(2) To ensure the child's race or ethnic and cultural identity shall be maintained and enhanced, child-placing agencies shall give a high priority, in the absence of good cause to the contrary, to placing the child with:

(a) A relative or relatives of the child, or, if that would be detrimental to the child or a relative is not available;

(b) A family with the same racial or ethnic heritage of the child, or, if that is not feasible;

(3) If the child's natural parent or parents express a preference for the placement of the child with a particular foster family or in a home of particular characteristics, the agency shall give a high priority to that preference.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. A new section is added to chapter 13.32A RCW to read as follows:

(a) A relative or relatives of the child, or, if that would be detrimental to the child or a relative is not available;

(b) A family with the same racial or ethnic heritage of the child, or, if that is not feasible;

Sec. 6. Section 4, chapter 188, Laws of 1984 as amended by section 2, chapter 189, Laws of 1988, section 2, chapter 190, Laws of 1988, and by section 1, chapter 194, Laws of 1988 and RCW 13.34.130 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:

If, after a fact-finding hearing pursuant to RCW 13.34.110, as now or hereafter amended, it has been proven by a preponderance of the evidence that the child is dependent within the meaning of RCW 13.34.030(2); after consideration of the predisposition report prepared pursuant to RCW 13.34.110 and after a disposition hearing has been held pursuant to RCW 13.34.110, the court shall enter an order of disposition pursuant to this section.

(1) The court shall order one of the following dispositions of the case:

(a) Order a disposition other than removal of the child from his or her home, which shall provide a program designed to alleviate the immediate danger to the child, to mitigate or cure any damage the child has already suffered, and to aid the parents so that the child will not be endangered in the future. In selecting a program, the court should choose those services that least interfere with family autonomy, provided that the services are adequate to protect the child.

(b) Order that the child be removed from his or her home and ordered into the custody, control, and care of a relative or the department of social and health services or a licensed child placing agency for placement in a foster family home or group care facility licensed pursuant to chapter 74.15 RCW or in a home not required to be licensed pursuant to chapter 74.15 RCW. Unless there is reasonable cause to believe that the safety or welfare of the child would be jeopardized or that efforts to reunite the parent and child will be hindered, such child shall be placed with a grandparent, brother, sister, stepbrother, stepsister, uncle, aunt, or first cousin with whom the child has a relationship and is comfortable, and who is willing and available to care for the child. An order for out-of-home placement may be made only if the court finds that reasonable efforts have been made to prevent or eliminate the need for removal of the child from the child's home and to make it possible for the child to return home and that:

(i) There is no parent or guardian available to care for such child;

(ii) The child is unwilling to reside in the custody of the child's parent, guardian, or legal custodian;

(iii) The parent, guardian, or legal custodian is not willing to take custody of the child;

(iv) A manifest danger exists that the child will suffer serious abuse or neglect if the child is not removed from the home and an order under RCW 26.44.063 would not protect the child from danger; or

(v) The extent of the child's disability is such that the parent, guardian, or legal custodian is unable to provide the necessary care for the child and the parent, guardian, or legal custodian has determined that the child would benefit from placement outside of the home.

(2) Whenever a child is ordered removed from the child's home, the agency charged with his or her care shall provide the court with a specific plan as to where the child will be placed, what steps will be taken to return the child home, and what actions the agency will take to maintain parent-child ties. All aspects of the plan shall include the goal of achieving permanence for the child.

(a) The agency plan for placement shall be in accordance with the provisions of section 4 of this 1989 act.

(b) The agency plan shall specify what services the parents will be offered in order to enable them to resume custody, what requirements the parents must meet in order to resume custody, and a time limit for each service plan and parental requirement.

((~~(b)~~)) (c) The agency shall be required to encourage the maximum parent-child contact possible, including regular visitation and participation by the parents in the care of the child while the child is in placement.

((~~(c)~~)) (d) A child shall be placed as close to the child's home as possible, preferably in the child's own neighborhood, unless the court finds that placement at a greater distance is necessary to promote the child's or parents' well-being.

((~~(d)~~)) (e) The agency charged with supervising a child in placement shall provide all reasonable services that are available within the agency, or within the community, or those services which the department of social and health services has existing contracts to purchase. It shall report to the court if it is unable to provide such services.

(3) If there is insufficient information at the time of the disposition hearing upon which to base a determination regarding the suitability of a proposed placement with a relative, the child shall remain in foster care and the court shall direct the supervising agency to conduct necessary background investigations as provided in chapter 74.15 RCW and report the results of such investigation to the court within thirty days. However, if such relative appears otherwise suitable and competent to provide care and treatment, the criminal history background check need not be completed before placement, but as soon as possible after placement. Any placements with relatives, pursuant to this section, shall be contingent upon cooperation by the relative with the agency case plan and compliance with court orders related to the care and supervision of the child including, but not limited to, court orders regarding parent-child contacts and any other conditions imposed by the court. Noncompliance with the case plan or court order shall be grounds for removal of the child from the relative's home, subject to review by the court.

(4) The status of all children found to be dependent shall be reviewed by the court at least every six months at a hearing in which it shall be determined whether court supervision should continue. The review shall include findings regarding the agency and parental completion of disposition plan requirements, and if necessary, revised permanency time limits.

(a) A child shall not be returned home at the review hearing unless the court finds that a reason for removal as set forth in this section no longer exists. The parents, guardian, or legal custodian shall report to the court the efforts they have made to correct the conditions which led to removal. If a child is returned, casework supervision shall continue for a period of six months, at which time there shall be a hearing on the need for continued intervention.

(b) If the child is not returned home, the court shall establish in writing:

(i) Whether reasonable services have been provided to or offered to the parties to facilitate reunion;

(ii) The extent to which the parents have visited the child and any reasons why visitation has not occurred or has been infrequent;

(iii) Whether the agency is satisfied with the cooperation given to it by the parents;

(iv) Whether additional services are needed to facilitate the return of the child to the child's parents; if so, the court shall order that reasonable services be offered; and

(v) When return of the child can be expected.

(c) The court at the review hearing may order that a petition seeking termination of the parent and child relationship be filed.

Sec. 7. Section 31, chapter 155, Laws of 1979 as last amended by section 1, chapter 524, Laws of 1987 and RCW 13.32A.170 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The court shall hold a fact-finding hearing to consider a proper petition and may approve or deny alternative residential placement giving due weight to the intent of the legislature that families have the right to place reasonable restrictions and rules upon their children, appropriate to the individual child's developmental level. The court may appoint legal counsel and/or a guardian ad litem to represent the child and advise parents of their right to be represented by legal counsel. The court may approve an order stating that the child shall be placed in a residence other than the home of his or her parent only if it is established by a preponderance of the evidence that:

(a) The petition is not capricious;

(b) The petitioner, if a parent or the child, has made a reasonable effort to resolve the conflict;

(c) The conflict which exists cannot be resolved by delivery of services to the family during continued placement of the child in the parental home; and

(d) Reasonable efforts have been made to prevent or eliminate the need for removal of the child from the child's home and to make it possible for the child to return home.

The court may not grant a petition filed by the child or the department if it is established that the petition is based only upon a dislike of reasonable rules or reasonable discipline established by the parent.

(2) The order approving out-of-home placement shall direct the department to submit a disposition plan for a three-month placement of the child that is designed to reunite the family and resolve the family conflict. Such plan shall delineate any conditions or limitations on parental involvement. In making the order, the court shall further direct the department to make recommendations, as to which agency or person should have physical custody of the child, as to which parental powers should be awarded to such agency or person, and as to parental visitation rights. The court may direct the department to consider the cultural heritage of the child in making its recommendations in accordance with section 5 of this 1989 act.

(3) The hearing to consider the recommendations of the department for a three-month disposition plan shall be set no later than fourteen days after the approval of the court of a petition to approve alternative residential placement. Each party shall be notified of the time and place of such disposition hearing.

(4) If the court approves or denies a petition for an alternative residential placement, a written statement of the reasons shall be filed. If the court denies a petition requesting that a child be placed in a residence other than the home of his or her parent, the court shall enter an order requiring the child to remain at or return to the home of his or her parent.

(5) If the court denies the petition, the court shall impress upon the party filing the petition of the legislative intent to restrict the proceedings to situations where a family conflict is so great that it cannot be resolved by the provision of in-home services.

(6) A child who fails to comply with a court order directing that the child remain at or return to the home of his or her parent shall be subject to contempt proceedings, as provided in this chapter, but only if the noncompliance occurs within ninety calendar days after the day of the order.

Sec. 8. Section 2, chapter 155, Laws of 1984 and RCW 26.33.020 are each amended to read as follows:

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.

(1) "Alleged father" means a person whose parent-child relationship has not been terminated, who is not a presumed father under chapter 26.26 RCW, and who alleges himself or whom a party alleges to be the father of the child. It includes a person whose marriage to the mother was terminated more than three hundred days before the birth of the child or who was separated from the mother more than three hundred days before the birth of the child.

(2) "Child" means a person under eighteen years of age.

(3) "Adoptee" means a person who is to be adopted or who has been adopted.

(4) "Adoptive parent" means the person or persons who seek to adopt or have adopted an adoptee.

(5) "Court" means the superior court.

(6) "Department" means the department of social and health services.

(7) "Agency" means any public or private association, corporation, or individual licensed or certified by the department as a child placing agency under chapter 74.15 RCW or as an adoption agency.

(8) "Parent" means the natural or adoptive mother or father of a child, including a presumed father under chapter 26.26 RCW. It does not include any person whose parent-child relationship has been terminated by a court of competent jurisdiction.

(9) "Legal guardian" means the department, an agency, or a person, other than a parent or stepparent, appointed by the court to promote the child's general welfare, with the authority and duty to make decisions affecting the child's development.

(10) "Guardian ad litem" means a person, not related to a party to the action, appointed by the court to represent the best interests of a party who is under a legal disability.

(11) "Relinquish or relinquishment" means the voluntary surrender of custody of a child to the department, an agency, or prospective adoptive parents.

(12) "Intercountry adoption" means an adoption in which the child is adopted by order of a Washington court, and where the child is adopted with authorization from a sovereign nation other than the United States: PROVIDED, That this definition shall not include adoptions related to Indian nations.

Sec. 9. Section 17, chapter 172, Laws of 1967 as last amended by section 10, chapter 170, Laws of 1987 and by section 69, chapter 505, Laws of 1987 and RCW 74.13.031 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:

The department shall have the duty to provide child welfare services as defined in RCW 74.13.020, and shall:

(1) Develop, administer, supervise, and monitor a coordinated and comprehensive plan that establishes, aids, and strengthens services for the protection and care of homeless, runaway, dependent, or neglected children.

(2) Develop a recruiting plan for recruiting an adequate number of prospective adoptive and foster homes, both regular and specialized, i.e. homes for children of ethnic minority, including Indian homes for Indian children, sibling groups, handicapped and emotionally disturbed, and annually submit the plan for review to the house and senate committees on social and health services. The plan shall include a section entitled "Foster Home Turn-Over, Causes and Recommendations."

(3) Investigate complaints of neglect, abuse, or abandonment of children, and on the basis of the findings of such investigation, offer child welfare services in relation to the problem to such parents, legal custodians, or persons serving in loco parentis, and/or bring the situation to the attention of an appropriate court, or another community agency: PROVIDED, That an investigation is not required of nonaccidental injuries which are clearly not the result of a lack of care or supervision by the child's parents, legal custodians, or persons serving in loco parentis. If the investigation reveals that a crime may have been committed, the department shall notify the appropriate law enforcement agency.

(4) Offer, on a voluntary basis, family reconciliation services to families who are in conflict.

(5) Monitor out-of-home placements, on a timely and routine basis, to assure the safety, well-being, and quality of care being provided is within the scope of the intent of the legislature as defined in RCW 74.13.010 and 74.15.010, and annually submit a report delineating the results to the house and senate committees on social and health services.

(6) Have authority to accept custody of children from parents and to accept custody of children from juvenile courts, where authorized to do so under law, to provide child welfare services including placement for adoption, and to provide for the physical care of such children and make payment of maintenance costs if needed. Except where required by Public Law 95-608 (25 U.S.C. Sec. 1915), no private adoption agency which receives children for adoption from the department shall discriminate on the basis of race, creed, or color when considering applications in their placement for adoption.

(7) Have authority to provide temporary shelter to children who have run away from home and who are admitted to crisis residential centers.

(8) Have authority to purchase care for children; and shall follow in general the policy of using properly approved private agency services for the actual care and supervision of such children insofar as they are available, paying for care of such children as are accepted by the department as eligible for support at reasonable rates established by the department.

(9) Establish a children's services advisory committee which shall assist the secretary in the development of a partnership plan for utilizing resources of the public and private sectors, and advise on all matters pertaining to child welfare, day care, licensing of child care agencies, and services related thereto. At least one-third of the membership shall be composed of child care providers.

(10) Have authority to provide continued foster care or group care for individuals from eighteen through twenty years of age to enable them to complete their high school or vocational school program.

(11) Have authority within funds appropriated for foster care services to purchase care for Indian children who are in the custody of a federally recognized Indian tribe or tribally licensed child-placing agency pursuant to parental consent, tribal court order, or state juvenile court order; and the purchase of such care shall be subject to the same eligibility standards and rates of support applicable to other children for whom the department purchases care.

(12) Compile statistical information regarding compliance with the race and ethnic heritage placement requirements and the foster family recruitment requirements of this 1989 act.

Notwithstanding any other provision of RCW 13.32A.170 through 13.32A.200 and RCW 74.13.032 through 74.13.036, or of this section all services to be provided by the department of social and health services under subsections (4), (6), and (7) of this section, subject to the limitations of these subsections, may be provided by any program offering such services funded pursuant to Titles II and III of the federal juvenile justice and delinquency prevention act of 1974 (P.L. No. 93-415; 42 U.S.C. 5634 et seq.; and 42 U.S.C. 5701 note as amended by P.L. 94-273, 94-503, and 95-115).

Sec. 10. Section 3, chapter 189, Laws of 1988 and RCW 74.15.030 are each amended to read as follows:

The secretary shall have the power and it shall be the secretary's duty:

(1) In consultation with the children's services advisory committee, and with the advice and assistance of persons representative of the various type agencies to be licensed, to designate categories of facilities for which separate or different requirements shall be developed as may be appropriate whether because of variations in the ages, sex and other characteristics of persons served, variations in the purposes and services offered or size or structure of the agencies to be licensed hereunder, or because of any other factor relevant thereto;

(2) In consultation with the children's services advisory committee, and with the advice and assistance of persons representative of the various type agencies to be licensed, to adopt and publish minimum requirements for licensing applicable to each of the various categories of agencies to be licensed.

The minimum requirements shall be limited to:

(a) The size and suitability of a facility and the plan of operation for carrying out the purpose for which an applicant seeks a license;

(b) The character, suitability and competence of an agency and other persons associated with an agency directly responsible for the care and treatment of children, expectant mothers or developmentally disabled persons. In consultation with law enforcement personnel, the secretary shall investigate the conviction record or pending charges and dependency record information under chapter 43.43 RCW of each agency and its staff seeking licensure or relicensure. The secretary shall use the information solely for the purpose of determining eligibility for a license and for determining the character, suitability, and competence of those persons or agencies, excluding parents, not required to be licensed who are authorized to care for children, expectant mothers, and developmentally disabled persons. Criminal justice agencies shall provide the secretary such information as they may have and that the secretary may require for such purpose;

(c) The number of qualified persons required to render the type of care and treatment for which an agency seeks a license;

(d) The safety, cleanliness, and general adequacy of the premises to provide for the comfort, care and well-being of children, expectant mothers or developmentally disabled persons;

(e) The provision of necessary care, including food, clothing, supervision and discipline; physical, mental and social well-being; and educational, recreational and spiritual opportunities for those served;

(f) The financial ability of an agency to comply with minimum requirements established pursuant to chapter 74.15 RCW and RCW 74.13.031; ((~~and~~))

(g) The maintenance of records pertaining to the admission, progress, health and discharge of persons served; and

(h) With reference to child-placing agencies, compliance with sections 1 and 2 of this 1989 act;

(3) To investigate any person, including relatives by blood or marriage except for parents, for character, suitability, and competence in the care and treatment of children, expectant mothers, and developmentally disabled persons prior to authorizing that person to care for children, expectant mothers, and developmentally disabled persons. However, if a child is placed with a relative under RCW 13.34.060 or 13.34.130, and if such relative appears otherwise suitable and competent to provide care and treatment the criminal history background check required by this section need not be completed before placement, but shall be completed as soon as possible after placement;

(4) On reports of child abuse and neglect, to investigate agencies in accordance with chapter 26.44 RCW, including day care centers and family day care homes, to determine whether the abuse or neglect has occurred, and whether child protective services or referral to a law enforcement agency is appropriate;

(5) To issue, revoke, or deny licenses to agencies pursuant to chapter 74.15 RCW and RCW 74.13.031. Licenses shall specify the category of care which an agency is authorized to render and the ages, sex and number of persons to be served;

(6) To prescribe the procedures and the form and contents of reports necessary for the administration of chapter 74.15 RCW and RCW 74.13.031 and to require regular reports from each licensee;

(7) To inspect agencies periodically to determine whether or not there is compliance with chapter 74.15 RCW and RCW 74.13.031 and the requirements adopted hereunder;

(8) To review requirements adopted hereunder at least every two years and to adopt appropriate changes after consultation with the children's services advisory committee; and

(9) To consult with public and private agencies in order to help them improve their methods and facilities for the care of children, expectant mothers and developmentally disabled persons.