FINAL BILL REPORT

HB 1898

C 230 L 01

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Licensing emergency respite centers.

Sponsors:  By Representatives Hankins, Skinner, Tokuda, Boldt, Kenney, Dunn, Keiser, Van Luven, McMorris, Delvin, Mitchell and Santos.

House Committee on Children & Family Services

Senate Committee on Human Services & Corrections

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, day care centers, group care facilities, crisis residential centers, and family foster homes.

Crisis nurseries are a type of respite care for children at risk of abuse and/or neglect.  The nurseries serve children from birth through age 17, and are operated up to 24 hours a day and up to seven days a week.  Caregivers who need a short break from their children to avoid abuse and/or neglect voluntarily bring the children to the nursery for relief.

Five crisis nurseries operate in the Tri-Cities, Spokane, Everett, Seattle, and Yakima.  Because this type of program is not included specifically in the definition of agencies that provide out-of-home care for children, expectant mothers, or persons with developmental disabilities, the crisis nurseries are licensed as child care centers, group care facilities, or foster care providers through the use of a number of waivers.

Summary:

?Emergency respite centers,@ commonly know as crisis nurseries, are added to the list of agencies licensed by the DSHS that arrange for, or directly provide, out-of-home care to children, expectant mothers, or persons with developmental disabilities.

Votes on Final Passage:

House930

Senate490(Senate amended)

House(House refused to concur)

Senate420(Senate amended)

House890(House concurred)

Effective:  July 22, 2001