1157-S

AN ACT Relating to the emancipation of minors; amending RCW 49.12.121; adding a new chapter to Title 13 RCW; and providing an effective date.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. Any minor who is sixteen years of age or older and who is a resident of this state may petition in the superior court for a declaration of emancipation.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. (1) A petition for emancipation shall be signed and verified by the petitioner, and shall include the following information: (a) The full name of the petitioner, the petitioner's birthdate, and the state and county of birth; (b) a certified copy of the petitioner's birth certificate; (c) the name and last known address of the petitioner's parent or parents, guardian, or custodian; (d) the petitioner's present address, and length of residence at that address; (e) a declaration by the petitioner indicating that he or she has the ability to manage his or her financial affairs, including any supporting information; and (f) a declaration by the petitioner indicating that he or she has the ability to manage his or her personal, social, educational, and nonfinancial affairs, including any supporting information.

(2) A reasonable filing fee not to exceed fifty dollars shall be set by the court.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. The petitioner shall serve a copy of the filed petition and notice of hearing on the petitioner's parent or parents, guardian, or custodian at least fifteen days before the emancipation hearing. No summons shall be required. Service shall be waived if proof is made to the court that the address of the parent or parents, guardian, or custodian is unavailable or unascertainable. The petitioner shall also serve notice of the hearing on the department if the petitioner is subject to dependency disposition order under RCW 13.34.130. The hearing shall be held no later than sixty days after the date on which the petition is filed.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. The hearing on the petition shall be before a judge, sitting without a jury. Prior to the presentation of proof the judge shall determine whether: (1) The petitioning minor understands the consequences of the petition regarding his or her legal rights and responsibilities; (2) a guardian ad litem should be appointed to investigate the allegations of the petition and file a report with the court; (3) counsel should be appointed to represent the petitioner; (4) counsel should be appointed to represent the petitioner's parent or parents, guardian, or custodian, if they choose to oppose the petition.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. (1) The court shall grant the petition for emancipation, except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, if the petitioner proves the following facts by a preponderance of the evidence: (a) That the petitioner is sixteen years of age or older; (b) that the petitioner is a resident of the state; (c) that the petitioner has the ability to manage his or her financial affairs; and (d) that the petitioner has the ability to manage his or her personal, social, educational, and nonfinancial affairs.

(2) A parent, guardian, custodian, or in the case of a dependent minor, the department, may oppose the petition for emancipation. The court shall deny the petition if it finds by a preponderance of the evidence that a grant of emancipation would be detrimental to the interests of the minor.

(3) Upon entry of a decree of emancipation by the court the petitioner shall be given a certified copy of the decree. The decree shall instruct the petitioner to obtain a Washington driver's license or a Washington identification card and direct the department of licensing make a notation of the emancipated status on the license or identification card.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. (1) An emancipated minor shall be considered to have the power and capacity of an adult, except as provided in subsection (2) of this section. A minor shall be considered emancipated for the purposes of, but not limited to:

(a) The termination of parental obligations of financial support, care, supervision, and any other obligation the parent may have by virtue of the parent-child relationship, including obligations imposed because of marital dissolution;

(b) The right to sue or be sued in his or her own name;

(d) The right to establish a separate residence or domicile;

(e) The right to enter into nonvoidable contracts;

(f) The right to act autonomously, and with the power and capacity of an adult, in all business relationships, including but not limited to property transactions;

(g) The right to work, and earn a living, subject only to the health and safety regulations designed to protect those under age of majority regardless of their legal status; and

(h) The right to give informed consent for receiving health care services.

(2) An emancipated minor shall not be considered an adult for: (a) The purposes of the adult criminal laws of the state unless the decline of jurisdiction procedures contained in RCW 13.40.110 are used; (b) the criminal laws of the state when the emancipated minor is a victim and the age of the victim is an element of the offense; or (c) those specific constitutional and statutory age requirements regarding voting, use of alcoholic beverages, and other health and safety regulations relevant to the minor because of the minor's age.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. A declaration of emancipation obtained by fraud is voidable. The voiding of any such declaration shall not affect any obligations, rights, or interests that arose during the period the declaration was in effect.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. The office of the administrator for the courts shall prepare and distribute to the county court clerks appropriate forms for minors seeking to initiate a petition of emancipation.

Sec. 9. RCW 49.12.121 and 1989 c 1 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The ((~~committee, or the director,~~)) department may at any time inquire into wages, hours, and conditions of labor of minors employed in any trade, business, or occupation in the state of Washington and may adopt special rules for the protection of the safety, health, and welfare of minor employees. ((~~The minimum wage for minors shall be as prescribed in RCW 49.46.020.~~)) However, the rules may not limit the hours per day or per week, or other specified work period, that may be worked by minors who are emancipated by court order.

(2) The ((~~committee~~)) department shall issue work permits to employers for the employment of minors, after being assured the proposed employment of a minor meets the standards ((~~set forth concerning~~)) for the health, safety, and welfare of minors as set forth in the rules ((~~and regulations promulgated~~)) adopted by the ((~~committee~~)) department. No minor person shall be employed in any occupation, trade, or industry subject to this 1973 amendatory act, unless a work permit has been properly issued, with the consent of the parent, guardian, or other person having legal custody of the minor and with the approval of the school which such minor may then be attending. However, the consent of a parent, guardian, or other person, or the approval of the school which the minor may then be attending, is unnecessary if the minor is emancipated by court order.

(3) The minimum wage for minors shall be as prescribed in RCW 49.46.020.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 10. Sections 1 through 8 of this act shall constitute a new chapter in Title 13 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 11. This act shall take effect January 1, 1994.