HOUSE BILL REPORT
SB 5419
As Passed House:
March 1, 2024
Title: An act relating to removing the requirement that the Washington state institute of public policy conduct an outcome evaluation of case aides who provide short-term relief for certain foster families.
Brief Description: Removing a Washington state institute of public policy outcome evaluation requirement.
Sponsors: Senators Gildon, Billig, Liias, Mullet and Wilson, C..
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Human Services, Youth, & Early Learning: 3/15/23, 3/17/23 [DP], 2/14/24, 2/21/24 [DP].
Floor Activity:
Passed House: 3/1/24, 96-0.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Eliminates the requirement that the Washington State Institute for Public Policy prepare an outcome evaluation of short-term support services provided to foster parents.
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES, YOUTH, & EARLY LEARNING
Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by 11 members:Representatives Senn, Chair; Cortes, Vice Chair; Rule, Vice Chair; Eslick, Ranking Minority Member; Couture, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Callan, Dent, Goodman, Ortiz-Self, Taylor and Walsh.
Staff: Luke Wickham (786-7146).
Background:

Short-Term Support and Case Aides for Foster Parents.

In 2017 the Legislature directed the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) to design a program of respite care that would minimize disruptions to the child and serve foster parents, including the provision of short-term support and case aides who provide temporary assistance to foster parents that does not include overnight assistance.  The DCYF was directed to establish a statewide pool of individuals to provide this support through contracts with nonprofit community-based organizations.  Short-term support must be available to all licensed foster parents in the state as funding is available.  A foster parent may request case aide services from a nonprofit organization under contract with the DCYF.

 

The Washington State Institute for Public Policy (WSIPP) was required to prepare an outcome evaluation of the short-term support described above, with a preliminary report due by December 1, 2018, and a final report submitted by June 30, 2021.

 

A preliminary report was completed by the WSIPP in 2018 that described two community-based agencies that began offering short-term support for foster parents beginning in June 2018.  The two community agencies provided this short-term support in five counties and served eight families in 2018.  

 

In 2020 the WSIPP Board of Directors voted to delay the final report on short-term support until June 30, 2023.

 

Washington State Institute for Public Policy.

The mission of the WSIPP is to carry out practical, nonpartisan research at the direction of the Legislature or the WSIPP Board of Directors.  The WSIPP works closely with legislators, legislative and state agency staff, and experts in the field to ensure that studies answer relevant policy questions.  Fiscal and administrative services for the WSIPP are provided by The Evergreen State College.
Summary of Bill:

The requirement that the WSIPP prepare an outcome evaluation of short-term support services provided to foster parents, including case aides who provide temporary assistance for those foster parents, is removed.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) This is a request from the WSIPP Board of Directors because the sample size is so small that they are not able to do a study, so the request is to remove the statutory requirement to conduct this study.  
Persons Testifying:

Senator Chris Gildon, prime sponsor.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.