HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1858

                    As Passed Legislature

                       April 21, 1993

Title:  An act relating to periodic case review for children in substitute care.

Brief Description:  Providing for periodic case review for children in substitute care.

Sponsors:  Representatives Brown, Romero, Foreman, Leonard, Lemmon, Mielke, Karahalios, Brough, Long, Kessler, Patterson and Mastin.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Human Services, February 25, 1993, DP;

  Passed House, March 12, 1993, 98-0;

Amended by Senate;

  Passed Legislature, April 21, 1993, 93-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 10 members:  Representatives Leonard, Chair; Riley, Vice Chair; Cooke, Ranking Minority Member; Talcott, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Brown; Karahalios; Lisk; Padden; Patterson; and Thibaudeau.

Staff:  David Knutson (786-7146).

Background: Citizen boards operating in certain counties are authorized to review the cases of children in foster care in counties designated by the Office of Administrator for the Courts.  Foster care citizen review boards review the case plan for each foster child assigned to it by the court.  The first review takes place within 90 days of placement.  The second review occurs within six months of placement.  The board reviews the foster care placement next within one year of foster care placement.  After 18 months in placement, a permanency planning hearing is held and the citizen review board reviews the case every six months until the child leaves foster care placement, or a guardianship or adoption decree is entered.

Summary of Bill: The reviews by the Foster Care Citizen Review Board will be limited to the first hearing within 90 days of placement, the second hearing within six months of placement, and the third hearing within one year of placement in foster care.

Permanency planning guidelines are established to ensure Foster Care Citizen Review Board actions follow existing statutory standards.  The secretary of the Department of Social and Health Services will develop guidelines to identify all children likely to need long-term care or assistance related to physical, mental, emotional, medical, or other long-term challenges.

Fiscal Note:  Requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  Citizen foster care review boards are a cost-effective alternative to court reviews of children in foster care.  Research shows citizen foster care reviews provide no advantages over court reviews after 12 months.

Testimony Against: None.

Witnesses: Marie Vack, National Association of Foster Care Reviewers; Liz Dalton, Department of Social and Health Services; and Donna Schram, Urban Policy Research.