BILL REQ. #:  S-1665.1 

READ FIRST TIME 02/21/13.   

     AN ACT Relating to extended foster care services; amending RCW 13.34.145, 13.34.267, 74.13.020, and 74.13.031; reenacting and amending RCW 13.34.030, 74.13.020, and 74.13.031; adding new sections to chapter 13.34 RCW; creating new sections; providing an effective date; and providing an expiration date.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   (1) The legislature finds that the federal fostering connections to success and increasing adoptions act of 2008 provides important new opportunities to increase the impact of state funding through maximizing the amount of federal funding available to promote permanency and positive outcomes for dependent youth.
     (2) The legislature also finds that children and adolescents who are legal dependents of Washington state have experienced significant trauma and loss, putting them at increased risk for poor life outcomes. Longitudinal research on the adult functioning of former foster youth indicates a disproportionate likelihood that youth aging out of foster care and those who spent several years in care will experience poor outcomes in a variety of areas, including limited human capital upon which to build economic security and inability to fully take advantage of secondary and postsecondary educational opportunities, untreated mental or behavioral health problems, involvement in the criminal justice and corrections systems, and early parenthood combined with second-generation child welfare involvement.
     (3) The legislature further finds that research also demonstrates that access to adequate and appropriate supports during the period of transition from foster care to independence can have significant positive impacts on adult functioning and can improve outcomes relating to educational attainment and postsecondary enrollment, employment and earnings, and reduced rates of teen pregnancies.

Sec. 2   RCW 13.34.030 and 2011 1st sp.s. c 36 s 13 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:
     For purposes of this chapter:
     (1) "Abandoned" means when the child's parent, guardian, or other custodian has expressed, either by statement or conduct, an intent to forego, for an extended period, parental rights or responsibilities despite an ability to exercise such rights and responsibilities. If the court finds that the petitioner has exercised due diligence in attempting to locate the parent, no contact between the child and the child's parent, guardian, or other custodian for a period of three months creates a rebuttable presumption of abandonment, even if there is no expressed intent to abandon.
     (2) "Child," "juvenile," and "youth" means:
     (a) Any individual under the age of eighteen years; or
     (b) Any individual age eighteen to twenty-one years who is eligible to receive and who elects to receive the extended foster care services authorized under RCW 74.13.031. A youth who remains dependent and who receives extended foster care services under RCW 74.13.031 shall not be considered a "child" under any other statute or for any other purpose.
     (3) "Current placement episode" means the period of time that begins with the most recent date that the child was removed from the home of the parent, guardian, or legal custodian for purposes of placement in out-of-home care and continues until: (a) The child returns home; (b) an adoption decree, a permanent custody order, or guardianship order is entered; or (c) the dependency is dismissed, whichever occurs first.
     (4) "Department" means the department of social and health services.
     (5) "Dependency guardian" means the person, nonprofit corporation, or Indian tribe appointed by the court pursuant to this chapter for the limited purpose of assisting the court in the supervision of the dependency.
     (6) "Dependent child" means any child who:
     (a) Has been abandoned;
     (b) Is abused or neglected as defined in chapter 26.44 RCW by a person legally responsible for the care of the child;
     (c) Has no parent, guardian, or custodian capable of adequately caring for the child, such that the child is in circumstances which constitute a danger of substantial damage to the child's psychological or physical development; or
     (d) Is receiving extended foster care services, as authorized by RCW 74.13.031.
     (7) "Developmental disability" means a disability attributable to intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism, or another neurological or other condition of an individual found by the secretary to be closely related to an intellectual disability or to require treatment similar to that required for individuals with intellectual disabilities, which disability originates before the individual attains age eighteen, which has continued or can be expected to continue indefinitely, and which constitutes a substantial limitation to the individual.
     (8) "Extended foster care services" means residential and other support services the department is authorized to provide under RCW 74.13.031. These services may include placement in licensed, relative, or otherwise approved care, or supervised independent living settings; assistance in meeting basic needs; independent living services; medical assistance; and counseling or treatment.
     (9) "Guardian" means the person or agency that: (a) Has been appointed as the guardian of a child in a legal proceeding, including a guardian appointed pursuant to chapter 13.36 RCW; and (b) has the legal right to custody of the child pursuant to such appointment. The term "guardian" does not include a "dependency guardian" appointed pursuant to a proceeding under this chapter.
     (10) "Guardian ad litem" means a person, appointed by the court to represent the best interests of a child in a proceeding under this chapter, or in any matter which may be consolidated with a proceeding under this chapter. A "court-appointed special advocate" appointed by the court to be the guardian ad litem for the child, or to perform substantially the same duties and functions as a guardian ad litem, shall be deemed to be guardian ad litem for all purposes and uses of this chapter.
     (11) "Guardian ad litem program" means a court-authorized volunteer program, which is or may be established by the superior court of the county in which such proceeding is filed, to manage all aspects of volunteer guardian ad litem representation for children alleged or found to be dependent. Such management shall include but is not limited to: Recruitment, screening, training, supervision, assignment, and discharge of volunteers.
     (12) "Housing assistance" means appropriate referrals by the department or other supervising agencies to federal, state, local, or private agencies or organizations, assistance with forms, applications, or financial subsidies or other monetary assistance for housing. For purposes of this chapter, "housing assistance" is not a remedial service or time-limited family reunification service as described in RCW 13.34.025(2).
     (13) "Indigent" means a person who, at any stage of a court proceeding, is:
     (a) Receiving one of the following types of public assistance: Temporary assistance for needy families, aged, blind, or disabled assistance benefits, medical care services under RCW 74.09.035, pregnant women assistance benefits, poverty-related veterans' benefits, food stamps or food stamp benefits transferred electronically, refugee resettlement benefits, medicaid, or supplemental security income; or
     (b) Involuntarily committed to a public mental health facility; or
     (c) Receiving an annual income, after taxes, of one hundred twenty-five percent or less of the federally established poverty level; or
     (d) Unable to pay the anticipated cost of counsel for the matter before the court because his or her available funds are insufficient to pay any amount for the retention of counsel.
     (14) "Out-of-home care" means placement in a foster family home or group care facility licensed pursuant to chapter 74.15 RCW or placement in a home, other than that of the child's parent, guardian, or legal custodian, not required to be licensed pursuant to chapter 74.15 RCW.
     (15) "Preventive services" means preservation services, as defined in chapter 74.14C RCW, and other reasonably available services, including housing assistance, capable of preventing the need for out-of-home placement while protecting the child.
     (16) "Shelter care" means temporary physical care in a facility licensed pursuant to RCW 74.15.030 or in a home not required to be licensed pursuant to RCW 74.15.030.
     (17) "Sibling" means a child's birth brother, birth sister, adoptive brother, adoptive sister, half-brother, or half-sister, or as defined by the law or custom of the Indian child's tribe for an Indian child as defined in RCW 13.38.040.
     (18) "Social study" means a written evaluation of matters relevant to the disposition of the case and shall contain the following information:
     (a) A statement of the specific harm or harms to the child that intervention is designed to alleviate;
     (b) A description of the specific services and activities, for both the parents and child, that are needed in order to prevent serious harm to the child; the reasons why such services and activities are likely to be useful; the availability of any proposed services; and the agency's overall plan for ensuring that the services will be delivered. The description shall identify the services chosen and approved by the parent;
     (c) If removal is recommended, a full description of the reasons why the child cannot be protected adequately in the home, including a description of any previous efforts to work with the parents and the child in the home; the in-home treatment programs that have been considered and rejected; the preventive services, including housing assistance, that have been offered or provided and have failed to prevent the need for out-of-home placement, unless the health, safety, and welfare of the child cannot be protected adequately in the home; and the parents' attitude toward placement of the child;
     (d) A statement of the likely harms the child will suffer as a result of removal;
     (e) A description of the steps that will be taken to minimize the harm to the child that may result if separation occurs including an assessment of the child's relationship and emotional bond with any siblings, and the agency's plan to provide ongoing contact between the child and the child's siblings if appropriate; and
     (f) Behavior that will be expected before determination that supervision of the family or placement is no longer necessary.
     (19) "Supervising agency" means an agency licensed by the state under RCW 74.15.090, or licensed by a federally recognized Indian tribe located in this state under RCW 74.15.190, that has entered into a performance-based contract with the department to provide case management for the delivery and documentation of child welfare services as defined in RCW 74.13.020.
     (20) "Medical condition" means, for the purpose of qualifying for extended foster care services, a short-term or long-term physical or mental health condition as verified and documented by a health care provider.
     (21) "Nonminor dependent" means any individual age eighteen to twenty-one years for whom there was an open dependency proceeding at the time that he or she reached the age of eighteen years, or who is released from the juvenile rehabilitation administration and had an open dependency proceeding at the time of his or her commitment, who meets the eligibility requirements for extended foster care services authorized under RCW 74.13.031, and who has a current voluntary placement agreement in effect.
     (22) "Supervised independent living" includes, but is not limited to, apartment living, room and board arrangements, college or university dormitories, and shared roommate settings.
     (23) "Voluntary placement agreement" means, for the purposes of extended foster care services, a written voluntary agreement between a youth who is a former dependent foster child between the ages of eighteen and twenty-one who agrees to submit to placement in the care and authority of the department for purposes of participating in the extended foster care program.

Sec. 3   RCW 13.34.145 and 2011 c 330 s 6 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The purpose of a permanency planning hearing is to review the permanency plan for the child, inquire into the welfare of the child and progress of the case, and reach decisions regarding the permanent placement of the child.
     (a) A permanency planning hearing shall be held in all cases where the child has remained in out-of-home care for at least nine months and an adoption decree, guardianship order, or permanent custody order has not previously been entered. The hearing shall take place no later than twelve months following commencement of the current placement episode.
     (b) Whenever a child is removed from the home of a dependency guardian or long-term relative or foster care provider, and the child is not returned to the home of the parent, guardian, or legal custodian but is placed in out-of-home care, a permanency planning hearing shall take place no later than twelve months, as provided in this section, following the date of removal unless, prior to the hearing, the child returns to the home of the dependency guardian or long-term care provider, the child is placed in the home of the parent, guardian, or legal custodian, an adoption decree, guardianship order, or a permanent custody order is entered, or the dependency is dismissed. Every effort shall be made to provide stability in long-term placement, and to avoid disruption of placement, unless the child is being returned home or it is in the best interest of the child.
     (c) Permanency planning goals should be achieved at the earliest possible date, preferably before the child has been in out-of-home care for fifteen months. In cases where parental rights have been terminated, the child is legally free for adoption, and adoption has been identified as the primary permanency planning goal, it shall be a goal to complete the adoption within six months following entry of the termination order.
     (2) No later than ten working days prior to the permanency planning hearing, the agency having custody of the child shall submit a written permanency plan to the court and shall mail a copy of the plan to all parties and their legal counsel, if any.
     (3) When the youth is at least age seventeen years but not older than seventeen years and six months, the department shall provide the youth with written documentation which explains the availability of extended foster care services and detailed instructions regarding how the youth may access such services after he or she reaches age eighteen years.
     (4) At the permanency planning hearing, the court shall conduct the following inquiry:
     (a) If a goal of long-term foster or relative care has been achieved prior to the permanency planning hearing, the court shall review the child's status to determine whether the placement and the plan for the child's care remain appropriate.
     (b) In cases where the primary permanency planning goal has not been achieved, the court shall inquire regarding the reasons why the primary goal has not been achieved and determine what needs to be done to make it possible to achieve the primary goal. The court shall review the permanency plan prepared by the agency and make explicit findings regarding each of the following:
     (i) The continuing necessity for, and the safety and appropriateness of, the placement;
     (ii) The extent of compliance with the permanency plan by the department or supervising agency and any other service providers, the child's parents, the child, and the child's guardian, if any;
     (iii) The extent of any efforts to involve appropriate service providers in addition to department or supervising agency staff in planning to meet the special needs of the child and the child's parents;
     (iv) The progress toward eliminating the causes for the child's placement outside of his or her home and toward returning the child safely to his or her home or obtaining a permanent placement for the child;
     (v) The date by which it is likely that the child will be returned to his or her home or placed for adoption, with a guardian or in some other alternative permanent placement; and
     (vi) If the child has been placed outside of his or her home for fifteen of the most recent twenty-two months, not including any period during which the child was a runaway from the out-of-home placement or the first six months of any period during which the child was returned to his or her home for a trial home visit, the appropriateness of the permanency plan, whether reasonable efforts were made by the department or supervising agency to achieve the goal of the permanency plan, and the circumstances which prevent the child from any of the following:
     (A) Being returned safely to his or her home;
     (B) Having a petition for the involuntary termination of parental rights filed on behalf of the child;
     (C) Being placed for adoption;
     (D) Being placed with a guardian;
     (E) Being placed in the home of a fit and willing relative of the child; or
     (F) Being placed in some other alternative permanent placement, including independent living or long-term foster care.
     At this hearing, the court shall order the department or supervising agency to file a petition seeking termination of parental rights if the child has been in out-of-home care for fifteen of the last twenty-two months since the date the dependency petition was filed unless the court makes a good cause exception as to why the filing of a termination of parental rights petition is not appropriate. Any good cause finding shall be reviewed at all subsequent hearings pertaining to the child. For purposes of this section, "good cause exception" includes but is not limited to the following: The child is being cared for by a relative; the department has not provided to the child's family such services as the court and the department have deemed necessary for the child's safe return home; or the department has documented in the case plan a compelling reason for determining that filing a petition to terminate parental rights would not be in the child's best interests.
     (c)(i) If the permanency plan identifies independent living as a goal, the court shall make a finding that the provision of services to assist the child in making a transition from foster care to independent living will allow the child to manage his or her financial, personal, social, educational, and nonfinancial affairs prior to approving independent living as a permanency plan of care. The court will inquire whether the child has been provided information about extended foster care services.
     (ii) The permanency plan shall also specifically identify the services, including extended foster care services, where appropriate, that will be provided to assist the child to make a successful transition from foster care to independent living.
     (iii) The department or supervising agency shall not discharge a child to an independent living situation before the child is eighteen years of age unless the child becomes emancipated pursuant to chapter 13.64 RCW.
     (d) If the child has resided in the home of a foster parent or relative for more than six months prior to the permanency planning hearing, the court shall:
     (i) Enter a finding regarding whether the foster parent or relative was informed of the hearing as required in RCW 74.13.280, 13.34.215(6), and 13.34.096; and
     (ii) If the department or supervising agency is recommending a placement other than the child's current placement with a foster parent, relative, or other suitable person, enter a finding as to the reasons for the recommendation for a change in placement.
     (((4))) (5) In all cases, at the permanency planning hearing, the court shall:
     (a)(i) Order the permanency plan prepared by the supervising agency to be implemented; or
     (ii) Modify the permanency plan, and order implementation of the modified plan; and
     (b)(i) Order the child returned home only if the court finds that a reason for removal as set forth in RCW 13.34.130 no longer exists; or
     (ii) Order the child to remain in out-of-home care for a limited specified time period while efforts are made to implement the permanency plan.
     (((5))) (6) Following the first permanency planning hearing, the court shall hold a further permanency planning hearing in accordance with this section at least once every twelve months until a permanency planning goal is achieved or the dependency is dismissed, whichever occurs first.
     (((6))) (7) Prior to the second permanency planning hearing, the agency that has custody of the child shall consider whether to file a petition for termination of parental rights.
     (((7))) (8) If the court orders the child returned home, casework supervision by the department or supervising agency shall continue for at least six months, at which time a review hearing shall be held pursuant to RCW 13.34.138, and the court shall determine the need for continued intervention.
     (((8))) (9) The juvenile court may hear a petition for permanent legal custody when: (a) The court has ordered implementation of a permanency plan that includes permanent legal custody; and (b) the party pursuing the permanent legal custody is the party identified in the permanency plan as the prospective legal custodian. During the pendency of such proceeding, the court shall conduct review hearings and further permanency planning hearings as provided in this chapter. At the conclusion of the legal guardianship or permanent legal custody proceeding, a juvenile court hearing shall be held for the purpose of determining whether dependency should be dismissed. If a guardianship or permanent custody order has been entered, the dependency shall be dismissed.
     (((9))) (10) Continued juvenile court jurisdiction under this chapter shall not be a barrier to the entry of an order establishing a legal guardianship or permanent legal custody when the requirements of subsection (((8))) (9) of this section are met.
     (((10))) (11) Nothing in this chapter may be construed to limit the ability of the agency that has custody of the child to file a petition for termination of parental rights or a guardianship petition at any time following the establishment of dependency. Upon the filing of such a petition, a fact-finding hearing shall be scheduled and held in accordance with this chapter unless the department or supervising agency requests dismissal of the petition prior to the hearing or unless the parties enter an agreed order terminating parental rights, establishing guardianship, or otherwise resolving the matter.
     (((11))) (12) The approval of a permanency plan that does not contemplate return of the child to the parent does not relieve the supervising agency of its obligation to provide reasonable services, under this chapter, intended to effectuate the return of the child to the parent, including but not limited to, visitation rights. The court shall consider the child's relationships with siblings in accordance with RCW 13.34.130.
     (((12))) (13) Nothing in this chapter may be construed to limit the procedural due process rights of any party in a termination or guardianship proceeding filed under this chapter.

Sec. 4   RCW 13.34.267 and 2012 c 52 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) In order to facilitate the delivery of extended foster care services, the court, upon agreement of the youth who is the subject of the proceeding, shall ((postpone for six months the dismissal of a)) maintain the dependency proceeding for any ((child)) youth who is a dependent child in foster care at the age of eighteen years and who, at the time of his or her eighteenth birthday, is:
     (a) Enrolled in a secondary education program or a secondary education equivalency program; ((or))
     (b) Enrolled and participating in a postsecondary academic or postsecondary vocational program, or has applied for and can demonstrate that he or she intends to timely enroll in a postsecondary academic or postsecondary vocational program;
     (c) Participating in a program or activity designed to promote employment or remove barriers to employment;
     (d) Engaged in employment for eighty hours or more per month; or
     (e) Incapable of engaging in any of the activities described in (a) through (d) of this subsection due to a medical condition that is supported by regularly updated information.
     (2) If the court maintains the dependency proceeding of a youth pursuant to subsection (1) of this section, the youth is eligible to receive extended foster care services pursuant to RCW 74.13.031, subject to the youth's continuing eligibility and agreement to participate.
     (3) A youth receiving extended foster care services is a party to the dependency proceeding. The youth's parent or guardian must be dismissed from the dependency proceeding when the youth reaches the age of eighteen.
     (4) The court shall dismiss the dependency proceeding for any child who is a dependent child in foster care and who, at the age of eighteen years, does not meet any of the criteria described in subsection (1)(a) through (e) of this section or does not agree to participate in the program.
     (((2)(a) The six-month postponement under this subsection is intended to allow a reasonable window of opportunity for an eligible youth who reaches the age of eighteen to request extended foster care services from the department or supervising agency. The court shall dismiss the dependency if the youth:
     (i) Has not requested extended foster care services from the department by the end of the six-month period; or
     (ii) Is no longer eligible for extended foster care services under RCW 74.13.031(10) at any point during the six-month period.
     (b) Until the youth requests to participate in the extended foster care program, the department is relieved of any supervisory responsibility for the youth.
     (3) A youth who participates in extended foster care while completing a secondary education or equivalency program may continue to receive extended foster care services for the purpose of participating in a postsecondary academic or postsecondary vocational education program if, at the time the secondary education or equivalency program is completed, the youth has applied to and can demonstrate that he or she intends to timely enroll in a postsecondary academic or vocational education program. The dependency shall be dismissed if the youth fails to timely enroll or continue in the postsecondary program, or reaches age twenty-one, whichever is earlier.
     (4) A youth receiving extended foster care services is a party to the dependency proceeding. The youth's parent or guardian shall be dismissed from the dependency proceeding when the youth reaches the age of eighteen years.))
     (5) The court shall order a youth participating in extended foster care services to be under the placement and care authority of the department, subject to the youth's continuing agreement to participate in extended foster care services. The department may establish foster care rates appropriate to the needs of the youth participating in extended foster care services.
     (6) The court shall appoint counsel to represent a youth, as defined in RCW 13.34.030(2)(b), in dependency proceedings under this section.
     (7) The case plan for and delivery of services to a youth receiving extended foster care services is subject to the review requirements set forth in RCW 13.34.138 and 13.34.145, and should be applied in a developmentally appropriate manner, as they relate to youth age eighteen to twenty-one years. Additionally, the court shall consider:
     (a) Whether the youth is safe in his or her placement;
     (b) Whether the youth continues to be eligible for extended foster care services;
     (c) Whether the current placement is developmentally appropriate for the youth;
     (d) The youth's development of independent living skills; and
     (e) The youth's overall progress toward transitioning to full independence and the projected date for achieving such transition.
     (8) Prior to the review hearing, the youth's attorney shall indicate whether there are any contested issues and may provide additional information necessary for the court's review.
     (9) Upon the request of the youth, or when the youth is no longer eligible to receive extended foster care services according to rules adopted by the department, the court shall dismiss the dependency.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   A new section is added to chapter 13.34 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) A youth who has reached age eighteen years may request extended foster care services authorized under RCW 74.13.031 at any time before he or she reaches the age of nineteen years if on or after the effective date of this section:
     (a) The dependency proceeding of the youth is dismissed pursuant to section 6(2) of this act or because the youth became ineligible for extended foster care services;
     (b) The youth is released from the juvenile rehabilitation administration and, at the time of his or her commitment to the juvenile rehabilitation administration, had an open dependency case; or
     (c) The court has dismissed the youth's dependency proceeding pursuant to section 6(2) of this act.
     (2)(a) Upon a request for extended foster care services by a youth pursuant to subsection (1) of this section, a determination that the youth is eligible for extended foster care services, and the completion of a voluntary placement agreement, the department shall provide extended foster care services to the youth.
     (b) In order to continue receiving extended foster care services after entering into a voluntary placement agreement with the department, the youth must agree to the entry of an order of dependency within one hundred eighty days after the date of the agreement.
     (3) If the youth, pursuant to subsection (1) of this section, requests extended foster care services from the department, and the department declines to enter into a voluntary placement agreement with the youth, the department must document its decision not to enter into such agreement and file such documentation with the court, stating its reasons for declining to file a petition. Upon receipt of the department's documentation, the court shall set a hearing date to determine whether the youth is eligible for extended foster care services. The court shall appoint counsel to represent the youth at such hearing.
     (4) A youth may enter into a voluntary placement agreement for extended foster care services only once.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6   A new section is added to chapter 13.34 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) If, on the effective date of this section, a youth older than age eighteen years but younger than age eighteen years and six months has an open dependency proceeding and has not requested extended foster care services, then the youth is eligible for extended foster care services if the youth requests such services and he or she meets the criteria set forth in RCW 13.34.267(1).
     (2) If the youth does not meet the criteria to receive extended foster care services or does not request such services under subsection (1) of this section, the court shall dismiss the dependency proceeding when the youth reaches age eighteen years and six months.

Sec. 7   RCW 74.13.020 and 2012 c 205 s 12 are each amended to read as follows:
     For purposes of this chapter:
     (1) "Case management" means convening family meetings, developing, revising, and monitoring implementation of any case plan or individual service and safety plan, coordinating and monitoring services needed by the child and family, caseworker-child visits, family visits, and the assumption of court-related duties, excluding legal representation, including preparing court reports, attending judicial hearings and permanency hearings, and ensuring that the child is progressing toward permanency within state and federal mandates, including the Indian child welfare act.
     (2) "Child" means:
     (a) A person less than eighteen years of age; or
     (b) A person age eighteen to twenty-one years who is eligible to receive the extended foster care services authorized under RCW 74.13.031.
     (3) "Child protective services" has the same meaning as in RCW 26.44.020.
     (4) "Child welfare services" means social services including voluntary and in-home services, out-of-home care, case management, and adoption services which strengthen, supplement, or substitute for, parental care and supervision for the purpose of:
     (a) Preventing or remedying, or assisting in the solution of problems which may result in families in conflict, or the neglect, abuse, exploitation, or criminal behavior of children;
     (b) Protecting and caring for dependent, abused, or neglected children;
     (c) Assisting children who are in conflict with their parents, and assisting parents who are in conflict with their children, with services designed to resolve such conflicts;
     (d) Protecting and promoting the welfare of children, including the strengthening of their own homes where possible, or, where needed;
     (e) Providing adequate care of children away from their homes in foster family homes or day care or other child care agencies or facilities.
     "Child welfare services" does not include child protection services.
     (5) "Committee" means the child welfare transformation design committee.
     (6) "Department" means the department of social and health services.
     (7) "Extended foster care services" means residential and other support services the department is authorized to provide to foster children. These services may include((, but are not limited to,)) placement in licensed, relative, or otherwise approved care, or supervised independent living settings; assistance in meeting basic needs; independent living services; medical assistance; and counseling or treatment.
     (8) "Measurable effects" means a statistically significant change which occurs as a result of the service or services a supervising agency is assigned in a performance-based contract, in time periods established in the contract.
     (9) "Out-of-home care services" means services provided after the shelter care hearing to or for children in out-of-home care, as that term is defined in RCW 13.34.030, and their families, including the recruitment, training, and management of foster parents, the recruitment of adoptive families, and the facilitation of the adoption process, family reunification, independent living, emergency shelter, residential group care, and foster care, including relative placement.
     (10) "Performance-based contracting" means the structuring of all aspects of the procurement of services around the purpose of the work to be performed and the desired results with the contract requirements set forth in clear, specific, and objective terms with measurable outcomes. Contracts shall also include provisions that link the performance of the contractor to the level and timing of reimbursement.
     (11) "Permanency services" means long-term services provided to secure a child's safety, permanency, and well-being, including foster care services, family reunification services, adoption services, and preparation for independent living services.
     (12) "Primary prevention services" means services which are designed and delivered for the primary purpose of enhancing child and family well-being and are shown, by analysis of outcomes, to reduce the risk to the likelihood of the initial need for child welfare services.
     (13) "Supervising agency" means an agency licensed by the state under RCW 74.15.090, or licensed by a federally recognized Indian tribe located in this state under RCW 74.15.190, that has entered into a performance-based contract with the department to provide case management for the delivery and documentation of child welfare services, as defined in this section. This definition is applicable on or after December 30, 2015.
     (14) "Medical condition" means, for the purpose of qualifying for extended foster care services, a short-term or long-term physical or mental health condition as verified and documented by a health care provider.
     (15) "Nonminor dependent" means any individual age eighteen to twenty-one years for whom there was an open dependency proceeding at the time that he or she reached the age of eighteen years, or who is released from the juvenile rehabilitation administration and had an open dependency proceeding at the time of his or her commitment, who meets the eligibility requirements for extended foster care services authorized under RCW 74.13.031, and who has a current voluntary placement agreement in effect.
     (16) "Supervised independent living" includes, but is not limited to, apartment living, room and board arrangements, college or university dormitories, and shared roommate settings.

Sec. 8   RCW 74.13.020 and 2012 c 259 s 7 and 2012 c 205 s 12 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:
     For purposes of this chapter:
     (1) "Case management" means convening family meetings, developing, revising, and monitoring implementation of any case plan or individual service and safety plan, coordinating and monitoring services needed by the child and family, caseworker-child visits, family visits, and the assumption of court-related duties, excluding legal representation, including preparing court reports, attending judicial hearings and permanency hearings, and ensuring that the child is progressing toward permanency within state and federal mandates, including the Indian child welfare act.
     (2) "Child" means:
     (a) A person less than eighteen years of age; or
     (b) A person age eighteen to twenty-one years who is eligible to receive the extended foster care services authorized under RCW 74.13.031.
     (3) "Child protective services" has the same meaning as in RCW 26.44.020.
     (4) "Child welfare services" means social services including voluntary and in-home services, out-of-home care, case management, and adoption services which strengthen, supplement, or substitute for, parental care and supervision for the purpose of:
     (a) Preventing or remedying, or assisting in the solution of problems which may result in families in conflict, or the neglect, abuse, exploitation, or criminal behavior of children;
     (b) Protecting and caring for dependent, abused, or neglected children;
     (c) Assisting children who are in conflict with their parents, and assisting parents who are in conflict with their children, with services designed to resolve such conflicts;
     (d) Protecting and promoting the welfare of children, including the strengthening of their own homes where possible, or, where needed;
     (e) Providing adequate care of children away from their homes in foster family homes or day care or other child care agencies or facilities.
     "Child welfare services" does not include child protection services.
     (5) "Committee" means the child welfare transformation design committee.
     (6) "Department" means the department of social and health services.
     (7) "Extended foster care services" means residential and other support services the department is authorized to provide to foster children. These services include, but are not limited to, placement in licensed, relative, or otherwise approved care, or supervised independent living settings; assistance in meeting basic needs; independent living services; medical assistance; and counseling or treatment.
     (8) "Family assessment" means a comprehensive assessment of child safety, risk of subsequent child abuse or neglect, and family strengths and needs that is applied to a child abuse or neglect report. Family assessment does not include a determination as to whether child abuse or neglect occurred, but does determine the need for services to address the safety of the child and the risk of subsequent maltreatment.
     (9) "Measurable effects" means a statistically significant change which occurs as a result of the service or services a supervising agency is assigned in a performance-based contract, in time periods established in the contract.
     (10) "Out-of-home care services" means services provided after the shelter care hearing to or for children in out-of-home care, as that term is defined in RCW 13.34.030, and their families, including the recruitment, training, and management of foster parents, the recruitment of adoptive families, and the facilitation of the adoption process, family reunification, independent living, emergency shelter, residential group care, and foster care, including relative placement.
     (11) "Performance-based contracting" means the structuring of all aspects of the procurement of services around the purpose of the work to be performed and the desired results with the contract requirements set forth in clear, specific, and objective terms with measurable outcomes. Contracts shall also include provisions that link the performance of the contractor to the level and timing of reimbursement.
     (12) "Permanency services" means long-term services provided to secure a child's safety, permanency, and well-being, including foster care services, family reunification services, adoption services, and preparation for independent living services.
     (13) "Primary prevention services" means services which are designed and delivered for the primary purpose of enhancing child and family well-being and are shown, by analysis of outcomes, to reduce the risk to the likelihood of the initial need for child welfare services.
     (14) "Supervising agency" means an agency licensed by the state under RCW 74.15.090, or licensed by a federally recognized Indian tribe located in this state under RCW 74.15.190, that has entered into a performance-based contract with the department to provide case management for the delivery and documentation of child welfare services, as defined in this section. This definition is applicable on or after December 30, 2015.
     (15) "Medical condition" means, for the purpose of qualifying for extended foster care services, a short-term or long-term physical or mental health condition as verified and documented by a health care provider.
     (16) "Nonminor dependent" means any individual age eighteen to twenty-one years for whom there was an open dependency proceeding at the time that he or she reached the age of eighteen years, or who is released from the juvenile rehabilitation administration and had an open dependency proceeding at the time of his or her commitment, who meets the eligibility requirements for extended foster care services authorized under RCW 74.13.031, and who has a current voluntary placement agreement in effect.
     (17) "Supervised independent living" includes, but is not limited to, apartment living, room and board arrangements, college or university dormitories, and shared roommate settings.

Sec. 9   RCW 74.13.031 and 2012 c 52 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The department and supervising agencies shall develop, administer, supervise, and monitor a coordinated and comprehensive plan that establishes, aids, and strengthens services for the protection and care of runaway, dependent, or neglected children.
     (2) Within available resources, the department and supervising agencies shall recruit an adequate number of prospective adoptive and foster homes, both regular and specialized, i.e. homes for children of ethnic minority, including Indian homes for Indian children, sibling groups, handicapped and emotionally disturbed, teens, pregnant and parenting teens, and the department shall annually report to the governor and the legislature concerning the department's and supervising agency's success in: (a) Meeting the need for adoptive and foster home placements; (b) reducing the foster parent turnover rate; (c) completing home studies for legally free children; and (d) implementing and operating the passport program required by RCW 74.13.285. The report shall include a section entitled "Foster Home Turn-Over, Causes and Recommendations."
     (3) The department shall investigate complaints of any recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker that results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, or sexual abuse or exploitation, or that presents an imminent risk of serious harm, and on the basis of the findings of such investigation, offer child welfare services in relation to the problem to such parents, legal custodians, or persons serving in loco parentis, and/or bring the situation to the attention of an appropriate court, or another community agency. An investigation is not required of nonaccidental injuries which are clearly not the result of a lack of care or supervision by the child's parents, legal custodians, or persons serving in loco parentis. If the investigation reveals that a crime against a child may have been committed, the department shall notify the appropriate law enforcement agency.
     (4) The department or supervising agencies shall offer, on a voluntary basis, family reconciliation services to families who are in conflict.
     (5) The department or supervising agencies shall monitor placements of children in out-of-home care and in-home dependencies to assure the safety, well-being, and quality of care being provided is within the scope of the intent of the legislature as defined in RCW 74.13.010 and 74.15.010. Under this section children in out-of-home care and in-home dependencies and their caregivers shall receive a private and individual face-to-face visit each month. The department and the supervising agencies shall randomly select no less than ten percent of the caregivers currently providing care to receive one unannounced face-to-face visit in the caregiver's home per year. No caregiver will receive an unannounced visit through the random selection process for two consecutive years. If the caseworker makes a good faith effort to conduct the unannounced visit to a caregiver and is unable to do so, that month's visit to that caregiver need not be unannounced. The department and supervising agencies are encouraged to group monthly visits to caregivers by geographic area so that in the event an unannounced visit cannot be completed, the caseworker may complete other required monthly visits. The department shall use a method of random selection that does not cause a fiscal impact to the department.
     The department or supervising agencies shall conduct the monthly visits with children and caregivers to whom it is providing child welfare services.
     (6) The department and supervising agencies shall have authority to accept custody of children from parents and to accept custody of children from juvenile courts, where authorized to do so under law, to provide child welfare services including placement for adoption, to provide for the routine and necessary medical, dental, and mental health care, or necessary emergency care of the children, and to provide for the physical care of such children and make payment of maintenance costs if needed. Except where required by Public Law 95-608 (25 U.S.C. Sec. 1915), no private adoption agency which receives children for adoption from the department shall discriminate on the basis of race, creed, or color when considering applications in their placement for adoption.
     (7) The department and supervising agency shall have authority to provide temporary shelter to children who have run away from home and who are admitted to crisis residential centers.
     (8) The department and supervising agency shall have authority to purchase care for children.
     (9) The department shall establish a children's services advisory committee with sufficient members representing supervising agencies which shall assist the secretary in the development of a partnership plan for utilizing resources of the public and private sectors, and advise on all matters pertaining to child welfare, licensing of child care agencies, adoption, and services related thereto. At least one member shall represent the adoption community.
     (10)(a) The department and supervising agencies shall ((have authority to)) provide continued extended foster care services to ((youth ages eighteen to twenty-one years to participate in or complete)) nonminor dependents who are:
     (i) Enrolled in a secondary education program or a secondary education equivalency program((, or));
     (ii) Enrolled and participating in a postsecondary academic or postsecondary vocational education program;
     (iii) Participating in a program or activity designed to promote employment or remove barriers to employment;
     (iv) Engaged in employment for eighty hours or more per month; or
     (v) Incapable of engaging in any of the activities described in (a)(i) through (iv) of this subsection due to a medical condition that is supported by regularly updated information.
     (b) The department shall develop and implement rules regarding youth eligibility requirements.
     (11) The department shall have authority to provide adoption support benefits, or relative guardianship subsidies on behalf of youth ages eighteen to twenty-one years who achieved permanency through adoption or a relative guardianship at age sixteen or older and who meet the criteria described in subsection (10) of this section.
     (12) The department shall refer cases to the division of child support whenever state or federal funds are expended for the care and maintenance of a child, including a child with a developmental disability who is placed as a result of an action under chapter 13.34 RCW, unless the department finds that there is good cause not to pursue collection of child support against the parent or parents of the child. Cases involving individuals age eighteen through twenty shall not be referred to the division of child support unless required by federal law.
     (13) The department and supervising agencies shall have authority within funds appropriated for foster care services to purchase care for Indian children who are in the custody of a federally recognized Indian tribe or tribally licensed child-placing agency pursuant to parental consent, tribal court order, or state juvenile court order; and the purchase of such care shall be subject to the same eligibility standards and rates of support applicable to other children for whom the department purchases care.
     Notwithstanding any other provision of RCW 13.32A.170 through 13.32A.200 and 74.13.032 through 74.13.036, or of this section all services to be provided by the department under subsections (4), (6), and (7) of this section, subject to the limitations of these subsections, may be provided by any program offering such services funded pursuant to Titles II and III of the federal juvenile justice and delinquency prevention act of 1974.
     (14) Within amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the supervising agency or department shall provide preventive services to families with children that prevent or shorten the duration of an out-of-home placement.
     (15) The department and supervising agencies shall have authority to provide independent living services to youths, including individuals who have attained eighteen years of age, and have not attained twenty-one years of age who are or have been in foster care.
     (16) The department and supervising agencies shall consult at least quarterly with foster parents, including members of the foster parent association of Washington state, for the purpose of receiving information and comment regarding how the department and supervising agencies are performing the duties and meeting the obligations specified in this section and RCW 74.13.250 and 74.13.320 regarding the recruitment of foster homes, reducing foster parent turnover rates, providing effective training for foster parents, and administering a coordinated and comprehensive plan that strengthens services for the protection of children. Consultation shall occur at the regional and statewide levels.
     (17)(a) The department shall, within current funding levels, place on its public web site a document listing the duties and responsibilities the department has to a child subject to a dependency petition including, but not limited to, the following:
     (i) Reasonable efforts, including the provision of services, toward reunification of the child with his or her family;
     (ii) Sibling visits subject to the restrictions in RCW 13.34.136(2)(b)(ii);
     (iii) Parent-child visits;
     (iv) Statutory preference for placement with a relative or other suitable person, if appropriate; and
     (v) Statutory preference for an out-of-home placement that allows the child to remain in the same school or school district, if practical and in the child's best interests.
     (b) The document must be prepared in conjunction with a community-based organization and must be updated as needed.

Sec. 10   RCW 74.13.031 and 2012 c 259 s 8 and 2012 c 52 s 2 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:
     (1) The department and supervising agencies shall develop, administer, supervise, and monitor a coordinated and comprehensive plan that establishes, aids, and strengthens services for the protection and care of runaway, dependent, or neglected children.
     (2) Within available resources, the department and supervising agencies shall recruit an adequate number of prospective adoptive and foster homes, both regular and specialized, i.e. homes for children of ethnic minority, including Indian homes for Indian children, sibling groups, handicapped and emotionally disturbed, teens, pregnant and parenting teens, and the department shall annually report to the governor and the legislature concerning the department's and supervising agency's success in: (a) Meeting the need for adoptive and foster home placements; (b) reducing the foster parent turnover rate; (c) completing home studies for legally free children; and (d) implementing and operating the passport program required by RCW 74.13.285. The report shall include a section entitled "Foster Home Turn-Over, Causes and Recommendations."
     (3) The department shall investigate complaints of any recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker that results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, or sexual abuse or exploitation, or that presents an imminent risk of serious harm, and on the basis of the findings of such investigation, offer child welfare services in relation to the problem to such parents, legal custodians, or persons serving in loco parentis, and/or bring the situation to the attention of an appropriate court, or another community agency. An investigation is not required of nonaccidental injuries which are clearly not the result of a lack of care or supervision by the child's parents, legal custodians, or persons serving in loco parentis. If the investigation reveals that a crime against a child may have been committed, the department shall notify the appropriate law enforcement agency.
     (4) As provided in RCW 26.44.030(11), the department may respond to a report of child abuse or neglect by using the family assessment response.
     (5) The department or supervising agencies shall offer, on a voluntary basis, family reconciliation services to families who are in conflict.
     (6) The department or supervising agencies shall monitor placements of children in out-of-home care and in-home dependencies to assure the safety, well-being, and quality of care being provided is within the scope of the intent of the legislature as defined in RCW 74.13.010 and 74.15.010. Under this section children in out-of-home care and in-home dependencies and their caregivers shall receive a private and individual face-to-face visit each month. The department and the supervising agencies shall randomly select no less than ten percent of the caregivers currently providing care to receive one unannounced face-to-face visit in the caregiver's home per year. No caregiver will receive an unannounced visit through the random selection process for two consecutive years. If the caseworker makes a good faith effort to conduct the unannounced visit to a caregiver and is unable to do so, that month's visit to that caregiver need not be unannounced. The department and supervising agencies are encouraged to group monthly visits to caregivers by geographic area so that in the event an unannounced visit cannot be completed, the caseworker may complete other required monthly visits. The department shall use a method of random selection that does not cause a fiscal impact to the department.
     The department or supervising agencies shall conduct the monthly visits with children and caregivers to whom it is providing child welfare services.
     (7) The department and supervising agencies shall have authority to accept custody of children from parents and to accept custody of children from juvenile courts, where authorized to do so under law, to provide child welfare services including placement for adoption, to provide for the routine and necessary medical, dental, and mental health care, or necessary emergency care of the children, and to provide for the physical care of such children and make payment of maintenance costs if needed. Except where required by Public Law 95-608 (25 U.S.C. Sec. 1915), no private adoption agency which receives children for adoption from the department shall discriminate on the basis of race, creed, or color when considering applications in their placement for adoption.
     (8) The department and supervising agency shall have authority to provide temporary shelter to children who have run away from home and who are admitted to crisis residential centers.
     (9) The department and supervising agency shall have authority to purchase care for children.
     (10) The department shall establish a children's services advisory committee with sufficient members representing supervising agencies which shall assist the secretary in the development of a partnership plan for utilizing resources of the public and private sectors, and advise on all matters pertaining to child welfare, licensing of child care agencies, adoption, and services related thereto. At least one member shall represent the adoption community.
     (11)(a) The department and supervising agencies shall ((have authority to)) provide continued extended foster care services to ((youth ages eighteen to twenty-one years to participate in or complete)) nonminor dependents who are:
     (i) Enrolled in a secondary education program or a secondary education equivalency program((, or));
     (ii) Enrolled and participating in a postsecondary academic or postsecondary vocational education program;
     (iii) Participating in a program or activity designed to promote employment or remove barriers to employment;
     (iv) Engaged in employment for eighty hours or more per month; or
     (v) Incapable of engaging in any of the activities described in (a)(i) through (iv) of this subsection due to a medical condition that is supported by regularly updated information.
     (b) The department shall develop and implement rules regarding youth eligibility requirements.
     (12) The department shall have authority to provide adoption support benefits, or relative guardianship subsidies on behalf of youth ages eighteen to twenty-one years who achieved permanency through adoption or a relative guardianship at age sixteen or older and who meet the criteria described in subsection (11) of this section.
     (13) The department shall refer cases to the division of child support whenever state or federal funds are expended for the care and maintenance of a child, including a child with a developmental disability who is placed as a result of an action under chapter 13.34 RCW, unless the department finds that there is good cause not to pursue collection of child support against the parent or parents of the child. Cases involving individuals age eighteen through twenty shall not be referred to the division of child support unless required by federal law.
     (14) The department and supervising agencies shall have authority within funds appropriated for foster care services to purchase care for Indian children who are in the custody of a federally recognized Indian tribe or tribally licensed child-placing agency pursuant to parental consent, tribal court order, or state juvenile court order; and the purchase of such care shall be subject to the same eligibility standards and rates of support applicable to other children for whom the department purchases care.
     Notwithstanding any other provision of RCW 13.32A.170 through 13.32A.200 and 74.13.032 through 74.13.036, or of this section all services to be provided by the department under subsections (4), (7), and (8) of this section, subject to the limitations of these subsections, may be provided by any program offering such services funded pursuant to Titles II and III of the federal juvenile justice and delinquency prevention act of 1974.
     (15) Within amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the supervising agency or department shall provide preventive services to families with children that prevent or shorten the duration of an out-of-home placement.
     (16) The department and supervising agencies shall have authority to provide independent living services to youths, including individuals who have attained eighteen years of age, and have not attained twenty-one years of age who are or have been in foster care.
     (17) The department and supervising agencies shall consult at least quarterly with foster parents, including members of the foster parent association of Washington state, for the purpose of receiving information and comment regarding how the department and supervising agencies are performing the duties and meeting the obligations specified in this section and RCW 74.13.250 and 74.13.320 regarding the recruitment of foster homes, reducing foster parent turnover rates, providing effective training for foster parents, and administering a coordinated and comprehensive plan that strengthens services for the protection of children. Consultation shall occur at the regional and statewide levels.
     (18)(a) The department shall, within current funding levels, place on its public web site a document listing the duties and responsibilities the department has to a child subject to a dependency petition including, but not limited to, the following:
     (i) Reasonable efforts, including the provision of services, toward reunification of the child with his or her family;
     (ii) Sibling visits subject to the restrictions in RCW 13.34.136(2)(b)(ii);
     (iii) Parent-child visits;
     (iv) Statutory preference for placement with a relative or other suitable person, if appropriate; and
     (v) Statutory preference for an out-of-home placement that allows the child to remain in the same school or school district, if practical and in the child's best interests.
     (b) The document must be prepared in conjunction with a community-based organization and must be updated as needed.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 11   This act applies prospectively only and not retroactively. It applies to:
     (1) Dependency matters that have an open court case on the effective date of this section;
     (2) Voluntary placement agreements entered into on or after the effective date of this section; and
     (3) Dependency matters for which a petition is filed on or after the effective date of this section.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 12   Sections 7 and 9 of this act expire December 1, 2013.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 13   Sections 8 and 10 of this act take effect December 1, 2013.