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                 ENGROSSED SUBSTITUTE SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 8429

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State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1990 Regular Session

By Senate Committee on Children & Family Services (originally sponsored by Senators Smith, Vognild, Bailey, Stratton and Conner)

Read first time 2/2/90.

WHEREAS, There is growing awareness of adoption as a way to provide homes for children and to establish families; and

          WHEREAS, The legislature has been asked to make numerous changes in adoption law during previous sessions of the legislature; and

          WHEREAS, A recent study determined that adoption services currently provided by agencies, independent facilitators, and the Department of Social and Health Services are not provided uniformly throughout the state; and

          WHEREAS, Adoption experts believe there are certain standards of practice that should be required in all adoptions; and

          WHEREAS, Issues around licensing of adoption agencies need thorough review;

          NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, By the Senate of the state of Washington, the House of Representatives concurring, That the Washington State Adoption Commission is hereby created and is authorized and directed to:

          (1) Conduct a study to establish recommended guidelines for minimum standards of practice for adoptions handled in Washington state;

          (2) Work with the Department of Social and Health Services, the Office of Administrator for the Courts, the Washington State Adoption Council, the Washington State Bar Association, and the Washington State Medical Association; and

          (3) Prepare a report by December 1990, which includes recommendations for statutory or administrative changes to better provide for the needs of the citizens of Washington state involved in an adoption; and

          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the commission shall be comprised of two members of the Senate, one from each caucus, to be appointed by the President of the Senate, and two members of the House of Representatives, one from each caucus, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.  The Washington State Bar Association, the Washington State Medical Association, the department of social and health services, and the Washington State Administrator for the Courts shall each appoint one representative to the commission.  The Washington State Adoption Council shall appoint four representatives to the commission.  The department of social and health services shall appoint to the commission two representatives of licensed, private adoption agencies, one from eastern Washington and one from western Washington, who between the two of them are able to represent infant, minority, special needs, in-country, and out-of-country adoptions.  The commission shall cease to exist at the conclusion of the legislative session in 1991; and

          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That members of the commission shall be reimbursed for expenses as provided in RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.  Expenses of the commission shall be paid jointly from appropriations to the House of Representatives and the Senate.