HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1668

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                 Children & Family Services

                       Appropriations

Title:  An act relating to foster parents.

Brief Description:  Providing foster parents with first aid/CPR and HIV/AIDS training.

Sponsors:  Representatives McDonald, Kagi, Boldt, Tokuda, Dickerson and Santos.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Children & Family Services:  2/11/99, 2/25/99 [DP];

Appropriations:  3/4/99, 3/6/99 [DPS].

           Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

$The Department of Social and Health Services will pay for HIV/AIDS and first aid/CPR training for foster parents.

$The Department is allowed to waive the first aid/CPR and HIV/AIDS training requirement in specific circumstances.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 9 members:  Representatives D. Sommers, Republican Co-Chair; Tokuda, Democratic Co-Chair; Boldt, Republican Vice Chair; Kagi, Democratic Vice Chair; Campbell; Dickerson; Eickmeyer; Kastama and Pflug.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  Signed by 1 member:  Representative Carrell.

Staff:  David Knutson (786-7146).

Background:

Foster parents are required to meet minimum licensing requirements prior to being licensed by the Department of Social and Health Services.  One of the minimum licensing requirements is the completion of first aid/CPR and HIV/AIDS training.  Foster parents are required to pay for their own training prior to being licensed.

Summary of Bill:

The Department of Social and Health Services will pay for the first aid/CPR and HIV/AIDS training required for foster parents.

Appropriation:  The sum of $175,000.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect July 1, 1999.

Testimony For:  Foster parents should not be required to pay for their own training.  The Department of Social and Health Services should support foster parents by paying for state-required training.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified:  (In support)  Representative Joyce McDonald (prime sponsor); Robert Ott, Foster Parents Association of Washington State;  Darlene Flowers, Foster Parents Association of Washington State;  Tina Davis;  and Ann Webster, Children's Home Society.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 31 members:  Representatives Huff, Republican Co-Chair; H. Sommers, Democratic Co-Chair; Alexander, Republican Vice Chair; Doumit, Democratic Vice Chair; D. Schmidt, Republican Vice Chair; Barlean; Benson; Boldt; Carlson; Clements; Cody; Crouse; Gombosky; Grant; Kagi; Keiser; Kenney; Lambert; Linville; Lisk; Mastin; McIntire; McMorris; Mulliken; Parlette; Regala; Rockefeller; Ruderman; Sullivan; Tokuda and Wensman.

Staff:  Julie Salvi (786-7349).

Summary of Recommendation of Committee on Appropriations Compared to Recommendation of Committee on Children & Family Services:  The department may waive the required first aid/CPR training when a foster parent has current certification or has professional background in this area.  The department may waive the HIV/AIDS training if the foster parent has completed this training in the last five years or has professional or educational background in this area.  The appropriation section is removed from the bill.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.  New fiscal note requested on March 8, 1999.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill:  The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect on July 1, 1999.

Testimony For:  (Original bill) Foster parents pay for training, medical tests, well water tests and other requirements as a part of the licensing process.  This is a barrier to some.  Paying for this training will help recruit and retain foster parents.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Barb Fenster, Families for Kids; and Darlene Flowers, Foster Parents Association of Washington.