FINAL BILL REPORT

HB 1588

                                  C 201 L 88

BYRepresentatives Anderson, Winsley, Brekke, Leonard, Jacobsen, Cole, Crane and Rust

Revising certain procedures governing dependency proceedings.

House Committe on Human Services

Senate Committee on Children & Family Services

SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

BACKGROUND:

Washington law governing dependency and termination of parental rights proceedings does not specify who may file a termination of parental rights petition.  The termination petition is filed after the child has been found dependent.  Any person may file a dependency petition.

When a petition for dependency has been filed, the parent, legal guardian or custodian of the child is issued a summons to appear in court for the dependency proceedings.  When that summons cannot be delivered through personal service, service by publication is authorized.

The Washington State Code Review Panel recommended two housekeeping changes to the dependency statute to clarify who may file a termination petition and to change the requirements for publishing a summons to appear in a dependency proceeding.

SUMMARY:

A termination of parental rights petition may be filed by any party to a dependency proceeding.

A summons to appear in a dependency action may be published simultaneously with efforts to provide personal service or service by mail when there is reason to believe that personal service or service by mail will be unsuccessful.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      House 98   0

      Senate    43     5 (Senate amended)

      House 96   0 (House concurred)

EFFECTIVE:June 9, 1988