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• Introduced by Sen. James Hargrove (D) on January 31, 2012, provides that when DSHS receives a report of abuse or neglect, it must decide within twenty-four hours whether to conduct a family assessment or an investigation. A family assessment is defined as a comprehensive assessment of child safety, risk of subsequent child abuse or neglect, and family strengths and needs that is applied to a child abuse or neglect report that does not allege substantial child endangerment.
  • Referred to the Senate Human Services & Corrections Committee on January 31, 2012.
    • Substitute offered in the Senate on February 3, 2012, clarifies that the focus of the family assessment is child safety first. Clarifies in the definition of family assessment that no determination of whether child abuse or neglect occurred is made Requires DSHS, no later than December 1, 2013, to implement the family assessment Track and to submit a report on the implementation plan to the legislature by December 31, 2012. The substitute passed by voice vote in the Senate on February 3, 2012.
  • Referred to the Senate Rules Committee on February 9, 2012.
    • Amendment offered by Sen. Val Stevens, (R-Arlington) (R) on February 11, 2012, provides that DSHS is not liable in using the family assessment track to respond to an allegation of child abuse or neglect unless the response choice was made with reckless disregard. The amendment passed by voice vote in the Senate on February 11, 2012.
• Passed 46 to 0 in the Senate on February 11, 2012, provides that, when DSHS receives a report of child abuse or neglect, DSHS must use one of two responses for reports that are screened in and accepted for response: an investigation or a family assessment. This act outlines the requirements and procedures for family assessments, which are defined as a comprehensive assessment of child safety, risk of subsequent child abuse or neglect, and family strengths and needs that is applied to a child abuse or neglect report. A person named as an alleged perpetrator in a founded allegation of child abuse or neglect has the right to seek review and amendment of the finding within 30 days of receiving notice from DSHS.
  Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
• Received in the House on February 14, 2012.
  • Referred to the House Early Learning & Human Services Committee on February 14, 2012.
    • Amendment offered in the House on February 21, 2012, requires the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) to implement a Family Assessment Response (FAR) within Child Protective Services (CPS) by December 1, 2013. Permits the DSHS to implement the FAR on a phased-in basis, by geographical area. Requires the DSHS to submit an implementation plan to the Legislature by December 31, 2012. Directs the Washington State Institute for Public Policy to evaluate the FAR and directs the DSHS to conduct client satisfaction surveys. Modifies the process to appeal CPS investigative findings and specifies items to be included in written notification to alleged perpetrators.
    • The amendment passed by voice vote in the House on March 1, 2012.
  • Referred to the House Ways & Means Committee on February 21, 2012.
  • Referred to the House Rules Committee on February 27, 2012.
    • Amendment offered by Rep. Ruth Kagi, (Lake Forest Park) (D) on March 1, 2012, requires the Department of Social and Health Services to develop effective mechanisms which assure and maximize, to the greatest extent practicable, that family assessment response for Native American Indian children will be completed in a timely manner by a worker from the child's tribe or by a worker approved by the child's tribe, as part of the family assessment response (FAR) implementation plan. Prohibits age of the child from being used as the sole criterion for determining whether a case will be assigned to investigation or family assessment response. Removes Sec. 7. which prescribes what the family assessment tool must specifically assess. Clarifies that FAR must be completed within 45 days, unless a parent agrees to an extension. Upon parental agreement, the FAR may be extended up to 90 days. Specifies that a child may be interviewed without a parent or guardian's permission if requesting such permission would compromise the integrity of the family assessment. The amendment passed by voice vote in the House on March 1, 2012.
• Passed 97 to 0 in the House on March 12, 2012.
  Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
• Received in the Senate on March 5, 2012.
• Failed by voice vote in the Senate on March 5, 2012.
• Received in the House on March 6, 2012.
  • Amendment offered by Rep. Ruth Kagi, (Lake Forest Park) (D) on March 6, 2012, requires the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) to implement a Family Assessment Response (FAR) within Child Protective Services (CPS) by December 1, 2013. Permits the DSHS to implement the FAR on a phased-in basis, by geographical area. Requires the DSHS to submit an implementation plan to the Legislature by December 31, 2012. Directs the Washington State Institute for Public Policy to evaluate the FAR and directs the DSHS to conduct client satisfaction surveys. Modifies the process to appeal CPS investigative findings and specifies items to be included in written notification to alleged perpetrators. The amendment passed by voice vote in the House on March 6, 2012.
• Passed 80 to 17 in the House on March 6, 2012.
  Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
• Received in the Senate on March 7, 2012.
• Passed 49 to 0 in the Senate on March 7, 2012.
  Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
• Signed by Gov. Christine Gregoire on March 30, 2012, requires the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) to implement a Family Assessment Response (FAR) within Child Protective Services (CPS) by December 1, 2013. Permits the DSHS to implement the FAR on a phased-in basis, by geographical area. Requires the DSHS to submit an implementation plan to the Legislature by December 31, 2012. Directs the Washington State Institute for Public Policy to evaluate the FAR and directs the DSHS to conduct client satisfaction surveys. Modifies the process to appeal CPS investigative findings and specifies items to be included in written notification to alleged perpetrators. Amends the purpose section of the statute governing child abuse and neglect to provide that the child's health and safety interests should prevail over conflicting legal interests of a parent, custodian, or guardian. Addresses the liability of governmental entities for acts or omissions in conducting emergent placement investigations of child abuse or neglect. Provides that the state is not liable for actions taken to comply with court orders and that child abuse investigators are entitled to the same witness immunity as other witnesses.