_______________________________________________
SUBSTITUTE
HOUSE BILL 1397
_______________________________________________
AS
AMENDED BY THE SENATE
Passed
Legislature - 2002 Regular Session
State
of Washington 57th Legislature 2002 Regular Session
By
Read
first time 02/04/2002. Referred to Committee on .
Encouraging support services for kinship caregivers.
AN
ACT Relating to children placed in the care of relatives; and creating new
sections.
BE IT
ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 1. The
legislature recognizes that relatives increasingly are assuming the
responsibility for raising the children of their loved ones. The parents of
these children are unable to fulfill this responsibility themselves because of
various and complex reasons.
The
legislature recognizes that these kinship caregivers perform a vital function
in our society by providing homes for children who would otherwise be at risk
of foster care placement. These homes offer stability to children in crisis
and enhance family reunification. Outcome data shows that children in the care
of relatives are less likely to enter state custody, and most of these
arrangements do not require intensive supervision of the placement by the
courts or by the department of social and health services. The legislature
recognizes that kinship care is a legitimate and important component in the
spectrum of out-of-home placements available to children in need.
The
legislature recognizes that these kinship caregivers face many difficulties and
need assistance to support the health and well-being of the children they care
for. These needs include, but are not limited to, legal assistance, respite
care services, financial assistance, counseling, and other supportive services.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 2. (1)
Within existing resources, the department of social and health services shall
convene a kinship caregivers working group subsequent to the release in June
2002 of the kinship caregivers study being conducted by the Washington state
institute for public policy. The working group shall comprise:
(a)
The children's administration;
(b)
The aging and adult services administration;
(c)
The economic services administration;
(d)
Kinship caregivers; and
(e)
Other stakeholders, such as the grandparents' coalition.
(2)
The kinship caregivers working group shall:
(a)
Review the Washington state institute for public policy kinship caregivers
study;
(b)
Develop a briefing for the legislature that identifies and prioritizes:
(i)
The policy issues to be considered in making kinship care a robust component of
the out-of-home placements spectrum including consideration of a financial
means test;
(ii)
The federal and state statutes associated with these policy issues; and
(iii)
Options for addressing these policy issues; and
(c)
Submit the briefing to the appropriate committees in the senate and house of
representatives by November 1, 2002.
Passed the House March 9, 2002.
Passed the Senate March 5, 2002.
Approved by the Governor
March 26, 2002.
Filed
in Office of Secretary of State March 26, 2002.
