Washington State
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research
BILL
ANALYSIS
Human Services, Youth, & Early Learning Committee
HB 1274
Brief Description: Creating a child malnutrition field guide for the department of children, youth, and families.
Sponsors: Representatives Couture, Lekanoff, Eslick, Waters, Walsh, Griffey, Low, Hutchins, Dent, Taylor, Barnard, Connors, Rude, Sandlin, Slatter, Stonier, Harris, Reeves, Abbarno, Robertson, Senn, Davis, Gregerson, Christian, Schmidt, Orwall, Ramel and Pollet.
Brief Summary of Bill

Requires the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), in consultation with the Department of Health, to produce and make available to the DCYF staff a child malnutrition field guide.
Hearing Date: 1/24/23
Staff: Omeara Harrington (786-7136).
Background:

Child protective and child welfare services are provided to families to protect children from child abuse and neglect.  The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is the agency responsible for administering these services. 
 
If an individual suspects that a child has been abused or neglected, that abuse or neglect can be reported to the DCYF Child Protective Services (CPS) office or to law enforcement.  If the CPS determines that the report is credible and meets screening criteria, it will assign either a 24-hour investigation response or 72-hour family assessment response, depending on the severity of the allegation.
 
Anyone, including the DCYF, may file a petition in court alleging that a child should be a dependent of the state due to abuse, neglect, or because there is no parent, guardian, or custodian capable of adequately caring for the child.  If a court determines that a child is dependent, the court will conduct periodic reviews and make determinations regarding the child's placement, provision of services by the DCYF, compliance of the parents, and whether progress has been made by the parents.
Summary of Bill:

By September 1, 2023, the DCYF, in consultation with the Department of Health, must produce and make available to the DCYF staff a child malnutrition field guide.  This field guide must:

  • be concise;
  • be easily accessible by the DCYF staff;
  • describe how to identify signs of child malnutrition;
  • include appropriate questions to ask the child and others close to the child when child malnutrition is suspected;
  • include the appropriate next steps the DYCF staff may take when child malnutrition is suspected; and
  • include any additional information the DCYF deems relevant.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 19, 2023.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.