wa-law.org > bill > 2025-26 > HB 1509 > Original Bill

HB 1509 - Family reconciliation

Source

Section 1

As used in this chapter the following terms have the meanings indicated unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

Section 2

  1. Subject to the availability of funding appropriated for this specific purpose, the department, or a designated contractor of the department, shall:

    1. Offer family reconciliation services to families or youth who are experiencing conflict and who may be in need of services upon request from the family or youth ;

    2. Offer family reconciliation services to families or youth after receiving a report that a youth is away from a lawfully prescribed residence or home without parental permission under RCW 13.32A.082(1). If the family or youth is being served by the community support team created under RCW 43.330.726, the department or designated contractor of the department must:

      1. Still offer family reconciliation services; and

      2. Coordinate with the community support team created in RCW 43.330.726;

    3. Offer family reconciliation services to families or youth, where the youth is in a county juvenile detention center and family conflict exists, upon request by the youth, family, or juvenile detention center; and

    4. Offer family reconciliation services to families or youth, where the youth is identified through the housing stability for youth in crisis program as described in RCW 43.330.724, upon request by the youth, family, or program.

  2. The department may involve a local multidisciplinary team in its response in determining the services to be provided and in providing those services. Such services shall be provided to alleviate personal or family situations which present a serious and imminent threat to the health or stability of the child or family and to maintain families intact wherever possible.

Section 3

  1. Beginning December 1, 2020, and annually thereafter, in compliance with RCW 43.01.036, the department shall make data available on the use of family reconciliation services which includes:

    1. The number of requests for family reconciliation services;

    2. The number of referrals made for family reconciliation services;

    3. The demographic profile of families and youth accessing family reconciliation services including race, ethnicity, housing status, child welfare history, existence of an individualized education program, eligibility for services under 29 U.S.C. Sec. 701, or eligibility for other disability-related services;

    4. The nature of the family conflict;

    5. The type and length of the family reconciliation services delivered;

    6. Family outcomes after receiving family reconciliation services;

    7. Recommendations for improving family reconciliation services;

    8. The number of requests for community-based reconciliation services; and

      1. The number of referrals made to community-based family reconciliation services.

  2. If the department cannot provide the information specified under subsection (1) of this section, the department shall identify steps necessary to obtain and make available the information required under subsection (1) of this section.

Section 4

Subject to the amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the department shall:

  1. By January 1, 2026, offer contracts to provide community-based family reconciliation services in at least three regions served by the department with at least two of these regions on the west side of the Cascade mountain range and at least one of these regions on the east side of the Cascade mountain range; and

  2. By January 1, 2030, offer contracts to provide community-based family reconciliation services statewide.

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