HOUSE BILL REPORT
SB 5651
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
As Reported by House Committee On:
Civil Rights & Judiciary
Title: An act relating to establishing a kinship care legal aid coordinator.
Brief Description: Establishing a kinship care legal aid coordinator.
Sponsors: Senators King, Saldaña, Walsh, Darneille, Das, Wilson, C. and Hasegawa.
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Civil Rights & Judiciary: 3/22/19, 3/26/19 [DP].
Brief Summary of Bill |
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON CIVIL RIGHTS & JUDICIARY |
Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 13 members: Representatives Jinkins, Chair; Thai, Vice Chair; Irwin, Ranking Minority Member; Dufault, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Goodman, Hansen, Kilduff, Kirby, Klippert, Orwall, Valdez, Walen and Ybarra.
Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 2 members: Representatives Graham and Shea.
Staff: Ingrid Lewis (786-7289).
Background:
Kinship care is the full-time care of children by relatives. Kinship care occurs informally, when children are not involved with public child welfare agencies, and formally, when public child welfare agencies are involved in placing children with relatives. The term "kin" is defined as persons 18 years of age or older to whom the child is related by blood, adoption, or marriage, including marriages that have been dissolved, and who are: denoted by the prefix "grand" or "great;" full, half, or step siblings; uncles or aunts; nephews or nieces; or first cousins. Washington offers kinship caregivers several legal custody options distinguished by the degree of involvement with the child welfare system, the permanency of the arrangement, and rights conferred to the caregiver.
In 2003 the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) was directed by the Legislature to create a Kinship Care Oversight Committee (Committee) tasked to plan, design, and implement strategies to prioritize the placement of children with willing and able kin when out-of-home placement is required. The Committee is required to annually update the Legislature and Governor on recommendations and activities. On July 1, 2018, the Department of Children, Youth, and Families assumed child welfare services from the DSHS.
Office of Civil Legal Aid.
The Legislature established the Office of Civil Legal Aid (OCLA) in 2005 as an independent agency in the judicial branch. The OCLA is responsible for the administration and oversight of state funds that are appropriated by the Legislature to provide civil legal aid services. The OCLA does not provide legal aid services directly, but contracts with attorneys to provide civil legal aid services to eligible low-income clients throughout the state. The Northwest Justice Project is the primary statewide provider of civil legal aid services. The OCLA is responsible for reporting to the Legal Aid Oversight Committee on the use of state funds for legal aid.
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Summary of Bill:
The role of kinship care legal aid coordinator is created in the Office of Civil Legal Aid, subject to appropriation. The coordinator must consult with specified stakeholders to develop local and regional kinship care legal aid initiatives and implement relevant recommendations from the Kinship Care Oversight Committee.
Coordinator duties include working with the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) on the development of training materials to help pro bono and low-cost attorneys provide legal advice and assistance to kinship caregivers. The coordinator must produce a biennial report outlining activities undertaken by the coordinator; legal aid resources developed at the statewide, regional, and local levels; and other information regarding development and expansion of legal aid services to kinship caregivers in Washington. Reports are due to the DCYF, the Department of Social and Health Services, and relevant committees of the Legislature by December 1 of each even-numbered year.
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Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect on June 30, 2019.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:
(In support) Accessing legal service is difficult for kinship caregivers. This bill establishes a way for caregivers to have access to legal services and supports. Since 2004 the King County Bar's Kinship Care Solutions project has provided kinship caregivers free legal services. There are many obstacles that kinship caregivers encounter in the daily needs of children in their care. For example, medical care, educational care, and safeguarding children. The coordinator would be helpful in providing training and coordinating best practices statewide. This bill will add critical legal resources for families who are raising relatives and who cannot afford to pay an attorney. Unlike foster parents, relative caregivers do not have access to social workers or other services to guide them through the system and help provide permanency for children in their care. Free legal services should be provided to family caregivers. Kinship caregivers are vulnerable to attacks from the legal system and from bureaucrats and profiteers.
(Opposed) None.
Persons Testifying: Senator King, prime sponsor; Laurie Lippold, Partners for Our Children; Judy Lin, King County Bar Association; Shelly Willis, Family Education Support Services; and Michael Brunson.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.