SB 5149 — Expanding the early childhood court program.

S-1112.2S-0480.1 SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5149 State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session By Senate Human Services (originally sponsored by Senators Cortes, Hasegawa, Krishnadasan, Liias, Nobles, Saldaña, Salomon, Shewmake, and C.

Wilson)Wilson READPrefiled FIRST01/07/25. TIME 02/06/25.

Read first time 01/13/25.

Referred to Committee on Human Services.

(1) The legislature finds that the early childhood court program has federal funding through September 2027 and is currently not operating at capacity.

(2) The legislature further finds that therecourts isneed aclarification historicalthat andthey ongoingmay impactuse ofearly systemicchildhood racismcourt withinfunding childto welfare,provide especiallyupstream assupports, itservices, affectsand Black,resources indigenous,to andfamilies marginalizedat families.risk of entering the dependency system should they elect to do so.

(3) The legislature further finds that there is a historical and ongoing impact of systemic racism within child welfare, especially as it affects Black, indigenous, and marginalized families.

Sec.p.

1 SB 5149 Sec.

(1)(a) A superior court may establish an early childhood court program to serve the needs of infants and toddlers who are under the p.age of ((three)) six at the time the case enters the program and dependent pursuant to chapter 13.34 RCW.

1(b) SSBAn 5149early agechildhood ofcourt ((three))program sixis ata thetherapeutic timecourt theas casedefined entersin thethis programchapter andthat provides an intensive court process for families with a child under age three who has been found dependent pursuant to chapter 13.34 RCW.

(b)To Anbe eligible for the early childhood court programprogram, is a therapeuticparent courtmust ashave defineda inchild thisunder chapterage three that providesis andependent intensivepursuant courtto processchapter for13.34 familiesRCW withat athe childtime underthe agecase ((three))enters sixthe whoearly haschildhood beencourt foundprogram. dependent pursuant to chapter 13.34 RCW.

ToThe becase eligiblemay forremain in the early childhood court program,program aafter parentthe mustchild haveis aage childthree underor ageolder ((three))if sixthe thatchild is still dependent pursuant to chapter 13.34 RCWRCW. at the time the case enters the early childhood court program.

The case may remain in the early childhood court program ((after the child is age three or older)) if the child is still dependent pursuant to chapter 13.34 RCW.

(c)p. A community team established by the court and consisting of stakeholders to the court that serve as an advisory body to the court and who implement the early childhood court program.

The2 SB 5149 (c) A community p.team established by the court and consisting of stakeholders to the court that serve as an advisory body to the court and who implement the early childhood court program.

2The SSBcommunity 5149 team shall include diverse membership to include, but not be limited to, former parent participants, foster parents, parent and child advocates, an attorney for parents, a department of children, youth, and families caseworker, and a judicial officer.

Having experienced and culturally informed professionals supporting and working with families involved in the dependency court system is critical to successful reunification of families.p.

The3 courtSB shall5149 aimfamilies. to foster an environment in which all professionals involved in the early childhood court program increase their awareness of different forms of bias and the trauma and p.

3The SSBcourt 5149shall aim to foster an environment in which all professionals involved in the early childhood court program increase their awareness of different forms of bias and the trauma and adversity that often accompany poverty, mental health, and substance use by identifying or developing training that increases such awareness.

(n)p. Each early childhood court program must be responsive to community needs and adopt best practices related to family reunification and serving all families, including those who are:

4 SB 5149 (n) Each early childhood court program must be responsive to community needs and adopt best practices related to family reunification and serving all families, including those who are:

and p.(iii) Experiencing disabilities.

4 SSB 5149 (iii) Experiencing disabilities.

(3) A court may provide coordination, resources, and services through its early childhood court program or through the community coordinator established under this section to families with a child or children under the age of six who are at risk of becoming the subject of a dependency case under chapter 13.34 RCW.

5 SSBSB 5149