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                                          ENGROSSED SENATE BILL NO. 6600

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                                                                            C 087 L 88

State of Washington                              50th Legislature                              1988 Regular Session

By Senators Pullen, Talmadge, Rinehart and Saling

Read first time 1/27/88 and referred to Committee on Law & Justice.

AN ACT Relating to abuse of children and adult dependent or developmentally disabled persons; and adding a new section to chapter 26.44 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 26.44 RCW to read as follows:

          In cases in which a public employee subject to RCW 26.44.030 acts in good faith and without gross negligence in his or her reporting duty, and if the employee's judgment as to what constitutes reasonable cause to believe that a child or adult dependent or developmentally disabled person has suffered abuse or neglect is being challenged, the public employer shall provide for the legal defense of the employee.

                                                                                                                      Passed the Senate February 10, 1988.

                                                                                                                                       President of the Senate.

                                                                                                                           Passed the House March 2, 1988.

                                                                                                                                         Speaker of the House.