HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1346

As Passed House:

March 9, 2001

Title:  An act relating to foreign children entering the United States for medical care.

Brief Description:  Exempting from child care regulations persons who place or care for children entering the United States for medical care.

Sponsors:  By Representatives Dickerson, Tokuda, Kenney, Kagi and Santos.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Children & Family Services:  2/19/01, 2/22/01 [DP].

Floor Activity:

Passed House: 3/9/01, 93-0.

Brief Summary of Bill

$The bill exempts organizations that bring international children to the United States temporarily for medical care, and the families who host these children, from licensing by the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS).

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES

Majority Report:  Do pass. Signed by 10 members: Representatives Boldt, Republican Co‑Chair; Tokuda, Democratic Co‑Chair; Kagi, Democratic Vice Chair; Morell, Republican Vice Chair; Ballasiotes, Campbell, Darneille, Dickerson, Miloscia and Pflug.

Staff:  Deborah Frazier (786‑7152).

Background:

Agencies that arrange for, or directly provide, out-of-home care to children, expectant mothers or persons with developmental disabilities are licensed by the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS).  Licensed entities include:  family day care providers and day care centers, group care facilities, crisis residential centers and family foster homes.

Entities exempt from licensing for the provision of out-of-home placement include:  relatives of children, expectant mothers or persons with developmental disabilities, boarding schools, seasonal camps, and families who host international exchange students.

Organizations that bring international children to the United States temporarily for medical care, and the families who host these children, are not exempted from licensing under current statutes.

Summary of Bill:

The bill exempts organizations that provide placement or similar services to international children who are in the United States on medical care visas from licensing by the DSHS.

The bill also exempts the host families for these children from licensing.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  We serve children ages 1-18 regardless of race, religion or creed.  These children would not get this needed medical care in their home countries because the treatment is not available, or is not affordable.  The children receive no form of state support while in the country.  The host families currently have to go through a lengthy process to become licensed as a family foster home.  This is cumbersome and keeps some families from serving as host families.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  (In support) Representative Dickerson, prime sponsor; and Norman L. Colon and Roby Naimi, Healing the Children.