CERTIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT
SECOND SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1205
Chapter 312, Laws of 2024
68TH LEGISLATURE
2024 REGULAR SESSION
CHILD DEPENDENCY CASES—SERVICE BY PUBLICATION
EFFECTIVE DATE: January 31, 2026
Passed by the House March 5, 2024
  Yeas 95  Nays 0
LAURIE JINKINS

Speaker of the House of Representatives
Passed by the Senate February 29, 2024
  Yeas 49  Nays 0
DENNY HECK

President of the Senate
CERTIFICATE
I, Bernard Dean, Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives of the State of Washington, do hereby certify that the attached is SECOND SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1205 as passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on the dates hereon set forth.
BERNARD DEAN

Chief Clerk
Chief Clerk
Approved March 28, 2024 10:21 AM
FILED
March 29, 2024
JAY INSLEE

Governor of the State of Washington
Secretary of State
State of Washington

SECOND SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1205

AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE
Passed Legislature - 2024 Regular Session
State of Washington
68th Legislature
2023 Regular Session
ByHouse Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Taylor, Reed, and Senn)
READ FIRST TIME 02/24/23.
AN ACT Relating to responsibility for providing service by publication of a summons or notice in dependency and termination of parental rights cases; amending RCW 13.34.080; creating a new section; and providing an effective date.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
Sec. 1. RCW 13.34.080 and 2000 c 122 s 9 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) The court shall direct the ((clerk))petitioner to publish notice in a legal newspaper ((printed in the county, qualified to publish summons)), as described under RCW 65.16.020, once a week for three consecutive weeks, with the first publication of the notice to be at least twenty-five days prior to the date fixed for the hearing when it appears by the petition or verified statement that:
(a)(i) The parent or guardian is a nonresident of this state; or
(ii) The name or place of residence or whereabouts of the parent or guardian is unknown; and
(b) After due diligence, the person attempting service of the summons or notice provided for in RCW 13.34.070 has been unable to make service, and a copy of the notice has been deposited in the post office, postage prepaid, directed to such person at his or her last known place of residence. If the parent, guardian, or legal custodian is believed to be a resident of another state or a county other than the county in which the petition has been filed, notice also shall be published in the county in which the parent, guardian, or legal custodian is believed to reside.
(2) Publication may proceed simultaneously with efforts to provide service in person or by mail, when the court determines there is reason to believe that service in person or by mail will not be successful. Notice shall be directed to the parent, parents, or other person claiming the right to the custody of the child, if their names are known. If their names are unknown, the phrase "To whom it may concern" shall be used, apply to, and be binding upon, those persons whose names are unknown. The name of the court, the name of the child (or children if of one family), the date of the filing of the petition, the date of hearing, and the object of the proceeding in general terms shall be set forth. There shall be filed with the clerk an affidavit showing due publication of the notice. ((The))
(3)(a) Except as provided in (b) of this subsection, the cost of publication shall be paid by the ((county))petitioner at a rate not greater than the rate paid for other legal notices.
(b) If the petitioner is a minor child or the court finds that the petitioner is an indigent parent or legal guardian, the cost of publication shall be paid or reimbursed by the office of civil legal aid where the petitioner is a minor child, or the office of public defense where the petitioner is a parent or legal guardian, pursuant to procedures set by each agency.
(4) The publication of notice shall be deemed equivalent to personal service upon all persons, known or unknown, who have been designated as provided in this section.
NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2. If specific funding for the purposes of this act, referencing this act by bill or chapter number, is not provided by June 30, 2024, in the omnibus appropriations act, this act is null and void.
NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3. This act takes effect January 31, 2026.
Passed by the House March 5, 2024.
Passed by the Senate February 29, 2024.
Approved by the Governor March 28, 2024.
Filed in Office of Secretary of State March 29, 2024.
--- END ---