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

HB 1288

Brief Description:  Providing guidelines for foster care placements.

Sponsors:  Representatives Sump, McMorris, Doumit, G. Chandler, D. Schmidt and Mielke.

Brief Summary of Bill

$If a child is placed in foster care outside of the child=s home county, and the child commits an offense that results in detention in a county financed detention facility, the DSHS is required to reimburse the county for the cost of detention.

Hearing Date:  2/5/01

Staff:  Deborah Frazier (786‑7152).

Background: 

A child removed from the family home by the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS)  because of abuse, neglect or abandonment is placed in foster care.  Over 19,000 children were placed in out of home care during fiscal year 2000.

The department is statutorily required to give priority to placement with a relative.  If a relative placement is not feasible, the department is required to place the child in the least restrictive, most family-like placement that is reasonably available and capable of meeting the child=s needs.  The department is also required to minimize the number of placements for a child.

Summary of Bill: 

The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) is instructed to attempt to place a child entering foster care in the child=s school district.  If such a placement is not feasible, the department is instructed to try to place the child in the child=s home county.

In the event a child is placed in foster care outside of the child=s home county, and the child commits an offense that results in detention in a county financed detention facility, the department is required to reimburse the county for the cost of detention.

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

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on January 30, 2001.