HOUSE BILL REPORT
SSB 6186
As Reported by House Committee On:
Community Safety, Justice, & Reentry
Title: An act relating to disclosure of recipient information to the Washington state patrol for purposes of locating missing and murdered indigenous women and other missing and murdered indigenous persons.
Brief Description: Concerning disclosure of certain recipient information to the Washington state patrol.
Sponsors: Senate Committee on Human Services (originally sponsored by Senators Kauffman, Dhingra, Hasegawa, Valdez and Wilson, C.).
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Community Safety, Justice, & Reentry: 2/19/24, 2/20/24 [DP].
Brief Summary of Substitute Bill
  • Requires the Department of Social and Health Services or the Health Care Authority to disclose whether a public assistance recipient who is the subject of a missing person's report has accessed his or her benefits upon a law enforcement officer's written request.
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON COMMUNITY SAFETY, JUSTICE, & REENTRY
Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by 9 members:Representatives Goodman, Chair; Simmons, Vice Chair; Mosbrucker, Ranking Minority Member; Griffey, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Davis, Farivar, Fosse, Graham and Ramos.
Staff: Corey Patton (786-7388).
Background:

The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) and the Health Care Authority (HCA) are required to disclose the current address and location of a recipient of public welfare upon written request by a properly identified officer of the law or United States immigration official, provided the officer:

  • furnishes the person's name and social security account number; and
  • satisfactorily demonstrates that such recipient is a fugitive, the location or apprehension of such fugitive is within the officer's official duties, and the request is made in the proper exercise of those duties.

 

When the DSHS or the HCA becomes aware that a public assistance recipient is the subject of an outstanding warrant, the DSHS or the HCA may contact the appropriate law enforcement agency and, if the warrant is valid, provide the recipient's location.
Summary of Bill:

The Department of Social and Health Services or the Health Care Authority must, to the extent allowed under federal law, disclose whether a public assistance recipient who is the subject of a missing person's report has accessed his or her benefits in the last 30 days upon written request of a law enforcement officer from a state, local, or tribal law enforcement agency, for the purpose of assisting the officer in confirming whether the recipient is alive.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
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) Having a person go missing is devastating for families and communities.  This bill seeks to enhance safety and wellbeing by fostering collaboration and information sharing between the Department of Social and Health Services, the Health Care Authority, and the Washington State Patrol.  However, this bill is only intended to help establish proof of life; it does not allow for disclosure of detailed information that would compromise victims who are attempting to escape their abusers.  This will protect privacy and safety while still assisting in solving missing person cases. 

 

(Opposed) None.
Persons Testifying:

Senator Claudia Kauffman, prime sponsor.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.