BP BHEAD INT H [atlas:bill]

AN ACT Relating to detention of children in secure facilities; amending RCW 13.32A.060, 13.32A.065, 13.32A.130, 13.32A.250, 28A.225.090, 74.13.033, and 74.13.034; and adding a new section to chapter 13.32A RCW.

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

Sec. 1. RCW 13.32A.060 and 1997 c 146 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) An officer taking a child into custody under RCW 13.32A.050(1) (a) or (b) shall inform the child of the reason for such custody and shall:

(a) Transport the child to his or her home or to a parent at his or her place of employment, if no parent is at home. The parent may request that the officer take the child to the home of an adult extended family member, responsible adult, crisis residential center, the department, or a licensed youth shelter. In responding to the request of the parent, the officer shall take the child to a requested place which, in the officer's belief, is within a reasonable distance of the parent's home. The officer releasing a child into the custody of a parent, an adult extended family member, responsible adult, or a licensed youth shelter shall inform the person receiving the child of the reason for taking the child into custody and inform all parties of the nature and location of appropriate services available in the community; or

(b) After attempting to notify the parent, take the child to a designated crisis residential center's secure facility or a center's semi-secure facility if a secure facility is full, not available, or not located within a reasonable distance:

(i) If the child expresses fear or distress at the prospect of being returned to his or her home which leads the officer to believe there is a possibility that the child is experiencing some type of child abuse or neglect, as defined in RCW 26.44.020;

(ii) If it is not practical to transport the child to his or her home or place of the parent's employment; or

(iii) If there is no parent available to accept custody of the child; or

(c) After attempting to notify the parent, if a crisis residential center is full, not available, or not located within a reasonable distance, the officer may request the department to accept custody of the child. If the department determines that an appropriate placement is currently available, the department shall accept custody and place the child in an out-of-home placement. Upon accepting custody of a child from the officer, the department may place the child in an out-of-home placement for up to seventy-two hours, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, without filing a child in need of services petition under this chapter, obtaining parental consent, or obtaining an order for placement under chapter 13.34 RCW. Upon transferring a child to the department's custody, the officer shall provide written documentation of the reasons and the statutory basis for taking the child into custody. If the department declines to accept custody of the child, the officer may release the child after attempting to take the child to the following, in the order listed: The home of an adult extended family member; a responsible adult; a licensed youth shelter and shall immediately notify the department if no placement option is available and the child is released.

(2) An officer taking a child into custody under RCW 13.32A.050(1) (c) or (d) shall inform the child of the reason for custody. An officer taking a child into custody under RCW 13.32A.050(1)(c) may release the child to the supervising agency, or shall take the child to a designated crisis residential center's secure facility. If the secure facility is not available, not located within a reasonable distance, or full, the officer shall take the child to a semi-secure crisis residential center. An officer taking a child into custody under RCW 13.32A.050(1)(d) may place the child in a juvenile detention facility as provided in RCW 13.32A.065 or a secure facility, except that the child shall be taken to either (a) a secure crisis residential center which is a separate, secure section of a juvenile detention facility; or (b) detention whenever the officer has been notified that a juvenile court has entered ((~~a detention~~)) an order directing such placement under this chapter or chapter 13.34 RCW. In no case shall a child in contempt be confined in a crisis residential center that is a free-standing facility outside a juvenile detention facility.

(3) Whenever an officer transfers custody of a child to a crisis residential center or the department, the child may reside in the crisis residential center or may be placed by the department in an out-of-home placement for an aggregate total period of time not to exceed seventy-two hours excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, except that a child placed in a secure facility within a crisis residential center under a court order entered under RCW 13.32A.250 must remain in the secure facility as provided in RCW 13.32A.065. Thereafter, the child may continue in out-of-home placement only if the parents have consented, a child in need of services petition has been filed under this chapter, or an order for placement has been entered under chapter 13.34 RCW.

(4) The department shall ensure that all law enforcement authorities are informed on a regular basis as to the location of all designated secure and semi-secure facilities within centers in their jurisdiction, where children taken into custody under RCW 13.32A.050 may be taken.

Sec. 2. RCW 13.32A.065 and 1996 c 133 s 12 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) A child may be placed in either (a) a secure crisis residential center which is a separate, secure section of a juvenile detention facility; or (b) detention after being taken into custody pursuant to RCW 13.32A.050(1)(d). In no case shall a child in contempt be confined in a crisis residential center that is a free-standing facility outside a juvenile detention facility. The court shall hold a ((~~detention~~)) review hearing within twenty-four hours, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. The court shall release the child after twenty-four hours, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, unless:

(a) A motion and order to show why the child should not be held in contempt has been filed and served on the child at or before the detention hearing; and

(b) The court believes that the child would not appear at a hearing on contempt.

(2) If the court ((~~orders the child to remain in detention~~)) finds that the conditions in subsection (1)(a) and (b) of this section have been met, the court may order the child to remain confined either in (a) a secure crisis residential center which is a separate, secure section of a juvenile detention facility; or (b) detention, and shall set the matter for a hearing on contempt within seventy-two hours, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. In no case shall a child in contempt be confined in a crisis residential center that is a free-standing facility outside a juvenile detention facility.

Sec. 3. RCW 13.32A.130 and 1997 c 146 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) A child admitted to a secure facility within a crisis residential center shall remain in the facility for not more than five consecutive days, but for at least twenty-four hours after admission. If the child admitted under this section is transferred between centers or between secure and semi-secure facilities, the aggregate length of time spent in all such centers or facilities may not exceed five consecutive days.

(2)(a)(i) The facility administrator shall determine within twenty-four hours after a child's admission to a secure facility whether the child is likely to remain in a semi-secure facility and may transfer the child to a semi-secure facility or release the child to the department. The determination shall be based on: (A) The need for continued assessment, protection, and treatment of the child in a secure facility; and (B) the likelihood the child would remain at a semi-secure facility until his or her parents can take the child home or a petition can be filed under this title.

(ii) In making the determination the administrator shall consider the following information if known: (A) The child's age and maturity; (B) the child's condition upon arrival at the center; (C) the circumstances that led to the child's being taken to the center; (D) whether the child's behavior endangers the health, safety, or welfare of the child or any other person; (E) the child's history of running away which has endangered the health, safety, and welfare of the child; and (F) the child's willingness to cooperate in the assessment.

(b) If the administrator of a secure facility determines the child is unlikely to remain in a semi-secure facility, the administrator shall keep the child in the secure facility pursuant to this chapter and in order to provide for space for the child may transfer another child who has been in the facility for at least seventy-two hours to a semi-secure facility. The administrator shall only make a transfer of a child after determining that the child who may be transferred is likely to remain at the semi-secure facility.

(c) A crisis residential center administrator is authorized to transfer a child to a crisis residential center in the area where the child's parents reside or where the child's lawfully prescribed residence is located.

(d) An administrator may transfer a child from a semi-secure facility to a secure facility whenever he or she reasonably believes that the child is likely to leave the semi-secure facility and not return and after full consideration of all factors in (a)(i) and (ii) of this subsection.

(3) If no parent is available or willing to remove the child during the first seventy-two hours following admission, the department shall consider the filing of a petition under RCW 13.32A.140.

(4) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (1) of this section, the parents may remove the child at any time during the five-day period unless the staff of the crisis residential center has reasonable cause to believe that the child is absent from the home because he or she is abused or neglected or if allegations of abuse or neglect have been made against the parents. The department or any agency legally charged with the supervision of a child may remove a child from a crisis residential center at any time after the first twenty-four-hour period after admission has elapsed and only after full consideration by all parties of the factors in subsection (2)(a) of this section.

(5) Crisis residential center staff shall make reasonable efforts to protect the child and achieve a reconciliation of the family. If a reconciliation and voluntary return of the child has not been achieved within forty-eight hours from the time of intake, and if the administrator of the center does not consider it likely that reconciliation will be achieved within the five-day period, then the administrator shall inform the parent and child of: (a) The availability of counseling services; (b) the right to file a child in need of services petition for an out-of-home placement, the right of a parent to file an at-risk youth petition, and the right of the parent and child to obtain assistance in filing the petition; (c) the right to request the facility administrator or his or her designee to form a multidisciplinary team; (d) the right to request a review of any out-of-home placement; (e) the right to request a mental health or chemical dependency evaluation by a county-designated professional or a private treatment facility; and (f) the right to request treatment in a program to address the child's at-risk behavior under RCW 13.32A.197.

(6) At no time shall information regarding a parent's or child's rights be withheld. The department shall develop and distribute to all law enforcement agencies and to each crisis residential center administrator a written statement delineating the services and rights. Every officer taking a child into custody shall provide the child and his or her parent(s) or responsible adult with whom the child is placed with a copy of the statement. In addition, the administrator of the facility or his or her designee shall provide every resident and parent with a copy of the statement.

(7) A crisis residential center and its administrator or his or her designee acting in good faith in carrying out the provisions of this section are immune from criminal or civil liability for such actions.

(8) This section does not apply to children admitted to either (a) a secure crisis residential center which is a separate, secure section of a juvenile detention facility; or (b) detention by a court order issued under RCW 13.32A.250(3) or 28A.225.090(2). In no case shall a child in contempt be confined in a crisis residential center that is a free-standing facility outside a juvenile detention facility.

Sec. 4. RCW 13.32A.250 and 1998 c 296 s 37 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) In all child in need of services proceedings and at-risk youth proceedings, the court shall verbally notify the parents and the child of the possibility of a finding of contempt for failure to comply with the terms of a court order entered pursuant to this chapter. Except as otherwise provided in this section, the court shall treat the parents and the child equally for the purposes of applying contempt of court processes and penalties under this section.

(2) Failure by a party to comply with an order entered under this chapter is a civil contempt of court as provided in RCW 7.21.030(2)(e), subject to the limitations of subsection (3) of this section.

(3) The court may impose remedial sanctions including a fine of up to one hundred dollars and confinement for up to seven days, or both for contempt of court under this section.

(4) A child placed in confinement for contempt under this section shall be placed in confinement ((~~only~~)) either in a secure juvenile detention facility operated by or pursuant to a contract with a county or a secure crisis residential center which is a separate, secure section of a juvenile detention facility. In no case shall a child in contempt be confined in a crisis residential center that is a free-standing facility outside a juvenile detention facility.

(5) A motion for contempt may be made by a parent, a child, juvenile court personnel, or by any public agency, organization, or person having custody of the child under a court order adopted pursuant to this chapter.

(6) Whenever the court finds probable cause to believe, based upon consideration of a motion for contempt and the information set forth in a supporting declaration, that a child has violated a placement order entered under this chapter, the court may issue an order directing law enforcement to pick up and take the child to detention or to a secure crisis residential center. The order may be entered ex parte without prior notice to the child or other parties. Following the child's admission to detention or to the secure facility, a ((~~detention~~)) review hearing must be held in accordance with RCW 13.32A.065.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. A new section is added to chapter 13.32A RCW to read as follows:

The court may only provide for confinement of a child in a secure crisis residential center under RCW 13.32A.250(3) or 28A.225.090(2) if: (1) The department and the center director certify that space is available to accommodate the child held in contempt; and (2) such confinement is consistent with any local court rule of the superior court of the county in which the secure crisis residential center is located. If the department and the center director rescind their certification, the court shall immediately transfer the child to a juvenile detention facility for the remainder of the period of confinement.

Sec. 6. RCW 28A.225.090 and 1999 c 319 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) A court may order a child subject to a petition under RCW 28A.225.035 to:

(a) Attend the child's current school;

(b) If there is space available and the program can provide educational services appropriate for the child, order the child to attend another public school, an alternative education program, center, a skill center, dropout prevention program, or another public educational program;

(c) Attend a private nonsectarian school or program including an education center. Before ordering a child to attend an approved or certified private nonsectarian school or program, the court shall: (i) Consider the public and private programs available; (ii) find that placement is in the best interest of the child; and (iii) find that the private school or program is willing to accept the child and will not charge any fees in addition to those established by contract with the student's school district. If the court orders the child to enroll in a private school or program, the child's school district shall contract with the school or program to provide educational services for the child. The school district shall not be required to contract for a weekly rate that exceeds the state general apportionment dollars calculated on a weekly basis generated by the child and received by the district. A school district shall not be required to enter into a contract that is longer than the remainder of the school year. A school district shall not be required to enter into or continue a contract if the child is no longer enrolled in the district;

(d) Be referred to a community truancy board, if available; or

(e) Submit to testing for the use of controlled substances or alcohol based on a determination that such testing is appropriate to the circumstances and behavior of the child and will facilitate the child's compliance with the mandatory attendance law.

(2) If the child fails to comply with the court order, the court may order the child to be ((~~subject to detention, as provided in RCW 7.21.030(2)(e)~~)) placed in confinement for contempt, either in a juvenile detention facility operated by or under a contract with a county or in a secure crisis residential center which is a separate, secure section of a juvenile detention facility, or may impose alternatives to ((~~detention~~)) confinement such as community service. Failure by a child to comply with an order issued under this subsection shall not be subject to detention for a period greater than that permitted pursuant to a civil contempt proceeding against a child under chapter 13.32A RCW. In no case shall a child in contempt be confined in a crisis residential center that is a free-standing facility outside a juvenile detention facility.

(3) Any parent violating any of the provisions of either RCW 28A.225.010, 28A.225.015, or 28A.225.080 shall be fined not more than twenty-five dollars for each day of unexcused absence from school. It shall be a defense for a parent charged with violating RCW 28A.225.010 to show that he or she exercised reasonable diligence in attempting to cause a child in his or her custody to attend school or that the child's school did not perform its duties as required in RCW 28A.225.020. The court may order the parent to provide community service instead of imposing a fine. Any fine imposed pursuant to this section may be suspended upon the condition that a parent charged with violating RCW 28A.225.010 shall participate with the school and the child in a supervised plan for the child's attendance at school or upon condition that the parent attend a conference or conferences scheduled by a school for the purpose of analyzing the causes of a child's absence.

(4) If a child continues to be truant after entering into a court-approved order with the truancy board under RCW 28A.225.035, the juvenile court shall find the child in contempt, and the court may order the child to be subject to detention, as provided in RCW 7.21.030(2)(e), or may impose alternatives to detention such as meaningful community service. Failure by a child to comply with an order issued under this subsection may not subject a child to detention for a period greater than that permitted under a civil contempt proceeding against a child under chapter 13.32A RCW.

(5) Subsections (1), (2), and (4) of this section shall not apply to a six or seven year-old child required to attend public school under RCW 28A.225.015.

Sec. 7. RCW 74.13.033 and 1995 c 312 s 62 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) If a resident of a center becomes by his or her behavior disruptive to the facility's program, such resident may be immediately removed to a separate area within the facility and counseled on an individual basis until such time as the child regains his or her composure. The department may set rules and regulations establishing additional procedures for dealing with severely disruptive children on the premises. A child confined in a secure crisis residential center which is a separate, secure section of a juvenile detention facility under RCW 13.32A.250(3) or 28A.225.090(2) may be moved to an available bed in a juvenile detention facility. In no case shall a child in contempt be confined in a crisis residential center that is a free-standing facility outside a juvenile detention facility.

(2) When the juvenile resides in this facility, all services deemed necessary to the juvenile's reentry to normal family life shall be made available to the juvenile as required by chapter 13.32A RCW. In assessing the child and providing these services, the facility staff shall:

(a) Interview the juvenile as soon as possible;

(b) Contact the juvenile's parents and arrange for a counseling interview with the juvenile and his or her parents as soon as possible;

(c) Conduct counseling interviews with the juvenile and his or her parents, to the end that resolution of the child/parent conflict is attained and the child is returned home as soon as possible;

(d) Provide additional crisis counseling as needed, to the end that placement of the child in the crisis residential center will be required for the shortest time possible, but not to exceed five consecutive days or, in the case of a child admitted by court order issued under RCW 13.32A.250(3) or 28A.225.090(2), seven consecutive days; and

(e) Convene, when appropriate, a multidisciplinary team.

(3) Based on the assessments done under subsection (2) of this section the facility staff may refer any child who, as the result of a mental or emotional disorder, or intoxication by alcohol or other drugs, is suicidal, seriously assaultive, or seriously destructive toward others, or otherwise similarly evidences an immediate need for emergency medical evaluation and possible care, for evaluation pursuant to chapter 71.34 RCW, to a mental health professional pursuant to chapter 71.05 RCW, or to a chemical dependency specialist pursuant to chapter 70.96A RCW whenever such action is deemed appropriate and consistent with law.

(4) A juvenile taking unauthorized leave from a facility shall be apprehended and returned to it by law enforcement officers or other persons designated as having this authority as provided in RCW 13.32A.050. If returned to the facility after having taken unauthorized leave for a period of more than twenty-four hours a juvenile shall be supervised by such a facility for a period, pursuant to this chapter, which, unless where otherwise provided, may not exceed five consecutive days on the premises. Costs of housing juveniles admitted to crisis residential centers shall be assumed by the department for a period not to exceed five consecutive days.

Sec. 8. RCW 74.13.034 and 1995 c 312 s 63 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) A child taken into custody and taken to a crisis residential center established pursuant to RCW 74.13.032 may, if the center is unable to provide appropriate treatment, supervision, and structure to the child, be taken at department expense to another crisis residential center, the nearest regional secure crisis residential center, or a secure facility with which it is collocated under RCW 74.13.032. Placement in both locations shall not exceed five consecutive days from the point of intake as provided in RCW 13.32A.130 or, in the case of a child admitted by court order issued under RCW 13.32A.250(3) or 28A.225.090(2), seven consecutive days.

(2) A child taken into custody and taken to a crisis residential center established by this chapter may be placed physically by the department or the department's designee and, at departmental expense and approval, in a secure juvenile detention facility operated by the county in which the center is located for a maximum of forty-eight hours, including Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, if the child has taken unauthorized leave from the center and the person in charge of the center determines that the center cannot provide supervision and structure adequate to ensure that the child will not again take unauthorized leave. Juveniles placed in such a facility pursuant to this section may not, to the extent possible, come in contact with alleged or convicted juvenile or adult offenders.

(3) Any child placed in secure detention pursuant to this section shall, during the period of confinement, be provided with appropriate treatment by the department or the department's designee, which shall include the services defined in RCW 74.13.033(2). If the child placed in secure detention is not returned home or if an alternative living arrangement agreeable to the parent and the child is not made within twenty-four hours after the child's admission, the child shall be taken at the department's expense to a crisis residential center. Placement in the crisis residential center or centers plus placement in juvenile detention shall not exceed five consecutive days from the point of intake as provided in RCW 13.32A.130 or, in the case of a child admitted by court order issued under RCW 13.32A.250(3) or 28A.225.090(2), seven consecutive days.

(4) Juvenile detention facilities used pursuant to this section shall first be certified by the department to ensure that juveniles placed in the facility pursuant to this section are provided with living conditions suitable to the well-being of the child. Where space is available, juvenile courts, when certified by the department to do so, shall provide secure placement for juveniles pursuant to this section, at department expense.