CERTIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT

SECOND SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1249

Chapter 265, Laws of 2001

57th Legislature

2001 Regular Legislative Session

FOSTER CARE--ACCREDITATION

EFFECTIVE DATE: 7/22/01

Passed by the House April 20, 2001

Yeas 90 Nays 0

FRANK CHOPP

Speaker of the House of Representatives

CLYDE BALLARD

Speaker of the House of Representatives

Passed by the Senate April 19, 2001

Yeas 46 Nays 0

CERTIFICATE

We, Timothy A. Martin and Cynthia Zehnder, Co-Chief Clerks of the House of Representatives of the State of Washington, do hereby certify that the attached is SECOND SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1249 as passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on the dates hereon set forth.

TIMOTHY A. MARTIN

Chief Clerk

CYNTHIA ZEHNDER

Chief Clerk

BRAD OWEN

President of the Senate

Approved May 11, 2001

FILED

May 11, 2001 - 9:57 a.m.

GARY LOCKE

Governor of the State of Washington

Secretary of State

State of Washington

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SECOND SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1249

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AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE

Passed Legislature - 2001 Regular Session

State of Washington 57th Legislature 2001 Regular Session

By House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Kagi, Boldt, Ballasiotes, Tokuda, Dickerson, Gombosky, Darneille, Morell, Anderson, Schual‑Berke, Esser, McIntire, Doumit, Kenney, Clements, Edwards, Fromhold, Miloscia, Barlean, Talcott, Ruderman, Conway, Kessler, Ogden, Lovick, D. Schmidt, O'Brien, Edmonds, Wood and Haigh)

Read first time . Referred to Committee on .

AN ACT Relating to the quality of foster care services; and adding new sections to chapter 74.13 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 74.13 RCW, to be codified after RCW 74.13.010, to read as follows:

The legislature finds that accreditation of children's services by an independent entity can significantly improve the quality of services provided to children and families. Accreditation involves an ongoing commitment to meeting nationally recognized standards of practice in child welfare and holds organizations accountable for achieving improved outcomes for children.

Accreditation is a structured process designed to facilitate organizational change and improvement within individual local offices. Standards require improved case management, documentation, internal case management practices, and accountability. Accreditation requires the establishment of clear communication with biological parents, foster and adoptive parents, providers, the courts, and members of the community.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 74.13 RCW, to be codified after section 1 of this act, to read as follows:

The department shall undertake the process of accreditation with the goal of completion by July 2006. The department, in conjunction with a national independent accreditation entity, shall report to the appropriate legislative committees its progress towards complete accreditation on an annual basis, starting December 2001.