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SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL NO. 1956
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AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE
C 255 L 89
State of Washington 51st Legislature 1989 Regular Session
By House Committee on Human Services (originally sponsored by Representatives Winsley, Brekke, Heavey, Leonard, Moyer, Bristow, Padden, Ebersole, Anderson and Youngsman)
Read first time 2/22/89.
AN ACT Relating to adoption; adding a new section to chapter 26.33 RCW; creating a new section; and prescribing penalties.
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) Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, "advertisement" means communication by newspaper, radio, television, handbills, placards or other print, broadcast, or the electronic medium. This definition applies throughout this section.
(2) No person or entity shall cause to be published for circulation, or broadcast on a radio or television station, within the geographic borders of this state, an advertisement of a child or children offered or wanted for adoption, or shall hold himself or herself out through such advertisement as having the ability to place, locate, dispose, or receive a child or children for adoption unless such person or entity is:
(a) A duly authorized agent, contractee, or employee of the department or a children's agency or institution licensed by the department to care for and place children;
(b) An attorney licensed to practice in Washington state; or
(c) A person who has a completed preplacement report as set forth in RCW 26.33.190 (1) and (2) or chapter 26.34 RCW with a favorable recommendation as to the fitness of the person to be an adoptive parent, or such person's duly authorized uncompensated agent, or an attorney who is licensed to practice in the state. Verification of compliance with the requirements of this section shall consist of a written declaration by the person or entity who prepared the preplacement report.
(3) Any such person or entity who places or causes such advertisement as prohibited in subsection (2) of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. Nothing in section 1 of this act applies to any radio or television station or any publisher, printer, or distributor of any newspaper, magazine, billboard, or other advertising medium which accepts advertising in good faith without knowledge of its violation of any provision of section 1 of this act.