HB 1544 — Improving the risk assessment process used when investigating alleged child abuse and neglect referrals.

H-1277.2H-0591.1 SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1544 State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session By House Early Learning & Human Services (originally sponsored by Representatives Rule, Hill, Davis, Reed, and Ormsby)Ormsby READRead FIRSTfirst TIMEtime 02/11/25.01/23/25.

Referred to Committee on Early Learning & Human Services.

(a) Identify family risks, strengths, cultural strengths, and needs at the time of the initial child protective services investigation or family assessment response to help inform the most appropriate service path for the family;

(b) Identify the risk of harm to a child when substance use disorder is a factor in the case or high potency synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, are a condition in the home,home; that incorporates guidance from the department of health regarding high potency synthetic opioids and child safety;

(c) Determine the service needs of the family and support caseworkers to identify and transition families to appropriate, available services quickly;

and (d) Support reassessment and monitoring of family progress.

1 SHBHB 1544 (c)(2) DetermineBy theNovember culturally1, appropriate2025, serviceand needsin ofcompliance with RCW 43.01.036, the familydepartment of children, youth, and supportfamilies caseworkersshall provide data and information to identifythe legislature on the department of children, youth, and transitionfamilies' familiesefforts to culturallyimprove appropriate,its availablerisks, servicesstrengths, quickly;and needs assessment tool based on the study required under subsection (1) of this section.

(d) Support reassessment and monitoring of family progress;

and (e) Ensure that the assessment tool incorporates evidence-based practices to address cultural bias.

(2) By November 1, 2025, 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, including feedback provided by the office of tribal relations within the department of children, youth, and families.

(b) When any person, in his or her official supervisory capacity with a nonprofit or for-profit organization, has reasonable cause to believe that a child has suffered abuse or neglect caused by a person over whom he or she regularly exercises supervisory authority, he or she shall report such incident, or cause a report to be made, to the proper law enforcement agency, provided that the person alleged to have caused the abuse or neglect is employed by, contracted by, or volunteers with the organization and coaches, trains, educates, or counsels a child or children or regularly has unsupervised access to p.a child or children as part of the employment, contract, or voluntary service.

2 SHB 1544 a child or children as part of the employment, contract, or voluntary service.

(i)p. "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.

2 HB 1544 (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.

p.For the purposes of this subsection, "severe abuse" means any of the following:

3 SHB 1544 For the purposes of this subsection, "severe abuse" means any of the following:

(e)p. 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.

3 HB 1544 (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.

In emergency cases, where the child's welfare is p.endangered, the department shall notify the proper law enforcement agency within twenty-four hours after a report is received by the department.

4 SHB 1544 endangered, the department shall notify the proper law enforcement agency within twenty-four hours after a report is received by the department.

(5)p. 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.

4 HB 1544 (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.

(8) Any case referred to the department by a physician licensed under chapter 18.57 or 18.71 RCW on the basis of an expert medical p.opinion that child abuse, neglect, or sexual assault has occurred and that the child's safety will be seriously endangered if returned home, the department shall file a dependency petition unless a second licensed physician of the parents' choice believes that such expert medical opinion is incorrect.

5 SHB 1544 opinion that child abuse, neglect, or sexual assault has occurred and that the child's safety will be seriously endangered if returned home, the department shall file a dependency petition unless a second licensed physician of the parents' choice believes that such expert medical opinion is incorrect.

If a physician finds that a child has suffered abuse or neglect but that suchp. 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.

5 HB 1544 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.

(12)(a) Upon receiving a report of alleged abuse or neglect, the department shall use one of the following discrete responses to p.reports of child abuse or neglect that are screened in and accepted for departmental response:

6 SHB 1544 reports of child abuse or neglect that are screened in and accepted for departmental response:

(i)p. 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:

6 HB 1544 (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:

p.(E) The child is an adjudicated dependent child as defined in RCW 13.34.030, or the child is in a facility that is licensed, operated, or certified for care of children by the department under chapter 74.15 RCW.

7(c) SHBIn 1544addition, (E) The child is an adjudicated dependent child as defined in RCW 13.34.030, or the childdepartment ismay inuse a facilityfamily thatassessment isresponse licensed,to operated,assess or certified for careand ofprovide childrenprevention byand thefamily departmentservices underand chapterp. 74.15 RCW.

(c)7 InHB addition,1544 the department may use a family assessment response to assess for and provide prevention and family services and 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:

p.(b) Collaborate with the family to identify family strengths, resources, and service needs, and develop a service plan with the goal of reducing risk of harm to the child and improving or restoring family well-being;

8 SHB 1544 (b) Collaborate with the family to identify family strengths, resources, and service needs, and develop a service plan with the goal of reducing risk of harm to the child and improving or restoring family well-being;

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

8 HB 1544 (i) Upon parental agreement, the family assessment response period may be extended up to one hundred twenty days.

Prior to commencing the p.interview the department or law enforcement agency shall determine whether the child wishes a third party to be present for the interview and, if so, shall make reasonable efforts to accommodate the child's wishes.

9Unless SHBthe 1544child interviewobjects, the department or law enforcement agency shall determine whether the child wishes a third party to be present for the interview and, if so, shall make reasonable efforts to accommodateinclude thea child'sthird wishes.p.

Unless9 theHB child1544 objects, the department or law enforcement agency shall make reasonable efforts to include a third party in any interview so long as the presence of the third party will not jeopardize the course of the investigation;