ENGROSSED SENATE BILL 5691
State of Washington 68th Legislature 2023 Regular Session
By Senators Warnick and Shewmake
1 AN ACT Relating to resource and assessment centers; and amending
2 RCW 74.15.311.
3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
4 Sec. 1. RCW 74.15.311 and 2013 c 105 s 3 are each amended to
5 read as follows:
6 (1) The secretary is authorized to license resource and
7 assessment centers if the agency meets the following requirements:
8 (a) There is a demonstrated need in the local community for a
9 resource and assessment center; and
10 (b) The resource and assessment center will be primarily staffed
11 by trained volunteers((; and
12 (c) The resource and assessment center demonstrates it is not
13 financially dependent on reimbursement from the state to operate)).
14 (2) The department may adopt rules to specify licensing
15 requirements for resource and assessment centers. Rules adopted by
16 the department shall allow:
17 (a) A sufficient number of trained volunteers to meet staffing
18 requirements;
19 (b) Flexibility in hours of operation and not require the
20 resource and assessment center to be open if there are no children in
21 its care; and
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 1 (c) The ability to operate in a residential area.
2 (3) Resource and assessment centers licensed under this section
3 may:
4 (a) Provide care for children ages birth through ((twelve, or for
5 children ages thirteen through seventeen who have a sibling or
6 siblings under thirteen years of age who are being admitted to the
7 resource and assessment center)) 17 at the discretion of the resource
8 and assessment center; ((and))
9 (b) Operate up to ((twenty-four)) 24 hours per day, and for up to
10 seven days per week((.
11 (4) Resource and assessment centers may not be));
12 (c) Provide care for children for up to three business days, or
13 up to seven business days with department approval;
14 (d) Be used to ((address)) provide emergency initial care for
15 children as they enter foster care; and
16 (e) Address placement disruptions for children who have not been
17 removed from a foster home because of the child's behavior or safety
18 concerns.
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Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 74.15.311
Engrossed Bill: 74.15.311