SB 5599 — Supporting youth and young adults seeking protected health care services.

ENGROSSEDS-0828.2 SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5599 State of Washington 68th Legislature 2023 Regular Session By Senate Human Services (originally sponsored by Senators Liias, C.

Wilson, Dhingra, Lovelett, Nguyen, and Randall)Randall READRead FIRSTfirst TIMEtime 02/15/23.01/27/23.

Referred to Committee on Human Services.

andadding creating a new section.section to chapter 43.330 RCW;

and making an appropriation.

NEW SECTION.

The legislature finds that unsheltered homelessness for youth poses a serious threat to their health and safety.

The Trevor project has found that one in three transgender youth report attempting suicide.

Homelessness amongst transgender youth can further endanger an already at-risk population.

The legislature further finds that barriers to accessing shelter can place a chilling effect on exiting unsheltered homelessness and therefore create additional risk and dangers for youth.

Youth seeking certain medical services are especially at risk and vulnerable.

Therefore, the legislature intends to remove barriers to accessing temporary, licensed shelter accommodations for youth seeking certain protected health care services.

Sec.

2.

(1)(a) Except as provided in (b) of this subsection, any person, unlicensed youth shelter, or runaway and homeless youth program that, p.without legal authorization, provides shelter to a minor and that knows at the time of providing the shelter that the minor is away from a lawfully prescribed residence or home without parental permission, shall promptly report the location of the child to the parent, the law enforcement agency of the jurisdiction in which the person lives, or the department , unless a compelling reason applies as defined in subsection (2) of this section.

1(b)(i) ESSBIf 5599a withoutlicensed legalovernight authorization,youth providesshelter, shelteror toanother licensed organization with a minorstated mission to provide services to homeless or runaway youth and thattheir families, shelters a child and knows at the time of providing the shelter that the minorchild is away from a lawfully prescribed residence or home without parental permission, shallit promptlymust reportp. the location of the child to the parent, the law enforcement agency of the jurisdiction in which the person lives, or the department.

(b)(i)1 IfSB a5599 licensed overnight youth shelter, or another licensed organization with a stated mission to provide services to homeless or runaway youth and their families, shelters a child and knows at the time of providing the shelter that the child is away from a lawfully prescribed residence or home without parental permission, it must contact the youth's parent within seventy-two hours, but preferably within twenty-four hours, following the time that the youth is admitted to the shelter or other licensed organization's program.

p.(c) "Compelling reasons" include, but are not limited to((, circumstances)):

2 ESSB 5599 (c) "Compelling reasons" include, but are not limited to((, circumstances)):

(d) "Protected health care services" meanshas genderthe affirmingsame treatmentmeaning as definedprovided in RCWchapter 74.09.675. and reproductive health care services as defined in RCW 74.09.875.

(3)., WhenLaws the department receives a report under subsection (1) of this2023(Senate section,Bill itNo. shall make a good faith attempt to notify the parent that a report has been received and offer services designed to resolve the conflict and accomplish a reunification of the family.

5489).

(3) When the department receives a report under subsection (1) of this section, it shall make a good faith attempt to notify the parent p.

2 SB 5599 that a report has been received and offer services designed to resolve the conflict and accomplish a reunification of the family.

(5) Nothing in this section limits a person's duty to report child abuse or neglect as required by RCW 26.44.030 or removes the requirement that the law enforcement agency of the jurisdiction in which the person lives be notified.

3.2.

p.(b) "Community facility" means a group care facility operated for the care of juveniles committed to the department under RCW 13.40.185.

3 ESSB 5599 (b) "Community facility" means a group care facility operated for the care of juveniles committed to the department under RCW 13.40.185.

Emergency respite centers may provide care for children ages birth through seventeen, and for persons eighteenp. through twenty with developmental disabilities who are admitted with a sibling or siblings through age seventeen.

3 SB 5599 eighteen through twenty with developmental disabilities who are admitted with a sibling or siblings through age seventeen.

p.(g) "HOPE center" means an agency licensed by the secretary to provide temporary residential placement and other services to street youth.

4 ESSB 5599 (g) "HOPE center" means an agency licensed by the secretary to provide temporary residential placement and other services to street youth.

(i)p. "Resource and assessment center" means an agency that provides short-term emergency and crisis care for a period up to seventy-two hours, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays to children who have been removed from their parent's or guardian's care by child protective services or law enforcement;

4 SB 5599 (i) "Resource and assessment center" means an agency that provides short-term emergency and crisis care for a period up to seventy-two hours, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays to children who have been removed from their parent's or guardian's care by child protective services or law enforcement;

p.(iii) A person who legally adopts a child or the child's parent as well as the natural and other legally adopted children of such persons, and other relatives of the adoptive parents in accordance with state law;

5 ESSB 5599 (iii) A person who legally adopts a child or the child's parent as well as the natural and other legally adopted children of such persons, and other relatives of the adoptive parents in accordance with state law;

19031903(4); (4);

(b)p. Persons who are legal guardians of the child, expectant mother, or persons with developmental disabilities;

5 SB 5599 (b) Persons who are legal guardians of the child, expectant mother, or persons with developmental disabilities;

p.(h) Licensed physicians or lawyers;