Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research	BILL ANALYSIS
Children & Family Services

HB 1102

Brief Description:  Regarding rights of foster parents.

Sponsors:  Representatives Boldt, Woods and Clements.

Brief Summary of Bill

$Employees of the Department of Social and Health Services are prohibited from retaliating or discriminating against foster parents.

Hearing Date:  1/29/01

Staff:  Deborah Frazier (786‑7152).

Background: 

Some foster parents have the perception that they will experience reprisal from employees of the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS)  if they disagree with the care plan established for a child in their care, attempt to adopt a foster child, file a complaint, or seek to understand their rights as foster parents.

Summary of Bill: 

Employees of the Department of Social and Health Services are prohibited from retaliating or discriminating against foster parents.  References to ?within available resources@ are deleted with regard to departmental sharing of information with the foster child's care givers and consulting with them in the development of the child's case plan.  References to foster parents assisting in family visitation, including monitoring, and  modeling effective parenting behavior for the natural family, are moved within the existing section of statute.

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

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on January 23, 2001.