S-4040.1  _______________________________________________

                    SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 6625

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington   57th Legislature        2002 Regular Session

By Senate Committee on Human Services & Corrections (originally sponsored by Senators Kohl‑Welles, Carlson, Hargrove, Zarelli, Long and Winsley)

READ FIRST TIME 02/07/2002.

Formalizing the relationship between the department of social and health services and the state school for the deaf.

    AN ACT Relating to formalizing the relationship between the department of social and health services and the state school for the deaf; adding a new section to chapter 26.44 RCW; and adding a new section to chapter 72.40 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 26.44 RCW to read as follows:

    (1) The department must investigate referrals of alleged child abuse or neglect occurring at the state school for the deaf, including alleged incidents involving students abusing other students; determine whether there is a finding of abuse or neglect; and determine whether a referral to law enforcement is appropriate under this chapter.

    (2) The department must send a copy of the investigation report, including the finding, regarding any incidents of alleged child abuse or neglect at the state school for the deaf to the school's superintendent.  The department may include recommendations to the superintendent and the board of trustees or its successor board for increasing the safety of the school's students.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 72.40 RCW to read as follows:

    (1) The department of social and health services must periodically monitor the residential program at the state school for the deaf, including but not limited to examining the residential-related policies and procedures as well as the residential facilities.  The department of social and health services must make recommendations to the school's superintendent and the board of trustees or its successor board on health and safety improvements related to child safety and well-being.  The department of social and health services must conduct the monitoring reviews at least quarterly until December 1, 2006.

    (2) The department of social and health services must conduct a comprehensive child health and safety review, as defined in rule, of the residential program at the state school for the deaf every three years.  The department of social and health services must deliver the first health and safety review to the governor, the legislature, the school's superintendent, and the school's board of trustees or successor board by December 1, 2004.

    (3) The state school for the deaf must provide the department of social and health services' staff with full and complete access to all records and documents that the department staff may request to carry out the requirements of this section.  The department of social and health services must have full and complete access to all students and staff of the state school for the deaf to conduct interviews to carry out the requirements of this section.

    (4) For the purposes of this section, the department of social and health services must use the safety standards established in this chapter when conducting the reviews.

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