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               ENGROSSED SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5995

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State of Washington      57th Legislature     2001 Regular Session

By Senate Committee on Human Services & Corrections (originally sponsored by Senators Long, Hargrove and Stevens)

READ FIRST TIME 02/26/01.

Providing for information sharing among the courts, providers, divisions, and agencies serving dependent children and their families.  

    AN ACT Relating to information sharing among the courts, providers, divisions, and agencies serving dependent children and their families; adding a new section to chapter 13.34 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 26.44 RCW; and creating new sections.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  Recent analysis of the child dependency system following the death of Zy'Nyia Nobles indicated poor communication of relevant information from the courts, to the department, within programs between caseworkers, between divisions, among specialists, caregivers, and family.  Appropriate service delivery necessitates communication of relevant information.  Barriers to appropriate communication must be eliminated.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 13.34 RCW to read as follows:

    In order to facilitate communication of information needed to serve the best interest of any child who is the subject of a dependency case filed under this chapter, the department of social and health services shall, consistent with state and federal law governing the release of confidential information, establish guidelines, and shall use those guidelines for the facilitation of communication of relevant information among divisions, providers, the courts, the family, caregivers, caseworkers, and others.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  A new section is added to chapter 26.44 RCW to read as follows:

    A law enforcement agency in the course of investigating:  (1) An allegation under RCW 69.50.401(a) relating to manufacture of methamphetamine; or (2) an allegation under RCW 69.50.440 relating to possession of ephedrine or pseudoephedrine with intent to manufacture methamphetamine, that discovers a child present at the site, shall contact the department immediately.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.  Nothing in this act shall be construed to create a private right of action or claim against the department of social and health services on the part of any individual or organization.

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