HB 2224 — Incorporating a risks, strengths, and needs assessment tool in the risk assessment process when investigating alleged child abuse and neglect referrals.

H-2775.1H-2470.1 SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 2224 State of Washington 68th Legislature 2024 Regular Session By House Human Services, Youth, & Early Learning (originally sponsored by Representatives Rule and Graham)Graham READRead FIRSTfirst TIMEtime 01/31/24.01/09/24.

Referred to Committee on Human Services, Youth, & Early Learning.

1 SHBHB 2224 (2) By November 1, 2024, and in compliance with RCW 43.01.036, the department of children, youth, and families shall provide data and information to the legislature on the department of children, youth, and families' efforts to improve its risks, strengths, and needs assessment tool based on the study required under subsection (1) of this section.

2 SHBHB 2224 (i) "Official supervisory capacity" means a position, status, or role created, recognized, or designated by any nonprofit or for- profit organization, either for financial gain or without financial gain, whose scope includes, but is not limited to, overseeing, directing, or managing another person who is employed by, contracted by, or volunteers with the nonprofit or for-profit organization.

3 SHBHB 2224 (e) The reporting requirement also applies to guardians ad litem, including court-appointed special advocates, appointed under Titles 11 and 13 RCW and this title, who in the course of their representation of children in these actions have reasonable cause to believe a child has been abused or neglected.

4 SHBHB 2224 (5) Any law enforcement agency receiving a report of an incident of alleged abuse or neglect pursuant to this chapter, involving a child who has died or has had physical injury or injuries inflicted upon him or her other than by accidental means, or who has been subjected to alleged sexual abuse, shall report such incident in writing as provided in RCW 26.44.040 to the proper county prosecutor or city attorney for appropriate action whenever the law enforcement agency's investigation reveals that a crime may have been committed.

5 SHBHB 2224 such abuse or neglect does not constitute imminent danger to the child's health or safety, and the department agrees with the physician's assessment, the child may be left in the parents' home while the department proceeds with reasonable efforts to remedy parenting deficiencies.

6 SHBHB 2224 (i) Use a method by which to assign cases to investigation or family assessment which are based on an array of factors that may include the presence of:

7 SHBHB 2224 programs, as defined in RCW 26.44.020, for the following children and their families, consistent with requirements under the federal family first prevention services act and this section:

8 SHBHB 2224 (i) Upon parental agreement, the family assessment response period may be extended up to one hundred twenty days.

9 SHBHB 2224 party in any interview so long as the presence of the third party will not jeopardize the course of the investigation;

(19)(a) The department shall use a risk assessment process that includes a risks, strengths, and needs assessment tool when investigating alleged child abuse and neglect referrals.

(b) The riskrisks, strengths, and needs assessment processtool used under this subsection must be certified at least once every three years based on current academic standards for assessment validation, and can be certified by the office of innovation, alignment, and accountability or an outside researcher.

10 SHBHB 2224 report and any collateral sources to determine if any malice is involved in the reporting.

11 SHBHB 2224