CERTIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT
SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1970
Chapter 145, Laws of 2024
68th Legislature
2024 Regular Session
DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES—CAREGIVER COMMUNICATION
EFFECTIVE DATE: June 6, 2024
Passed by the House February 12, 2024 CERTIFICATE
Yeas 97 Nays 0
I, Bernard Dean, Chief Clerk of the
House of Representatives of the
LAURIE JINKINS State of Washington, do hereby
Speaker of the House of certify that the attached is
Representatives SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1970 as
passed by the House of
Representatives and the Senate on
the dates hereon set forth.
Passed by the Senate March 1, 2024
Yeas 49 Nays 0
BERNARD DEAN
DENNY HECK Chief Clerk
President of the Senate
Approved March 18, 2024 3:12 PM FILED
March 19, 2024
Secretary of State
JAY INSLEE State of Washington
Governor of the State of Washington
 SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1970
Passed Legislature - 2024 Regular Session
State of Washington 68th Legislature 2024 Regular Session
By House Human Services, Youth, & Early Learning (originally
sponsored by Representatives McClintock, Couture, Waters, Graham,
Cheney, Sandlin, Harris, and Caldier)
READ FIRST TIME 01/29/24.
1 AN ACT Relating to improving communication between the department
2 of children, youth, and families and caregivers; adding a new section
3 to chapter 74.13 RCW; creating a new section; and providing an
4 expiration date.
5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
6 NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 74.13
7 RCW to read as follows:
8 The department shall establish a caregiver communication
9 specialist position within the department for the purpose of
10 improving communication between the department and caregivers. The
11 caregiver communication specialist position established in this
12 section is responsible for:
13 (1) Developing policies for sharing appropriate and timely
14 information with caregivers of children receiving child welfare
15 services; and
16 (2) Supporting coordination between existing caregiver engagement
17 teams, constituent relations, communications specialists, and child
18 welfare field offices.
19 NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. (1) By October 1, 2025, and in compliance
20 with RCW 43.01.036, the department of children, youth, and families
p. 1 SHB 1970.SL
 1 shall submit a report to the appropriate committees of the
2 legislature and the governor describing:
3 (a) How the department of children, youth, and families could
4 implement an automated notification system that would provide
5 electronic or telephonic notifications to caregivers of children
6 receiving child welfare services regarding upcoming changes in
7 placements for the child, court hearings, or other relevant and
8 appropriate information;
9 (b) Any statutory, policy, or funding changes needed to
10 accomplish the automated notification system described in (a) of this
11 subsection; and
12 (c) Recommendations regarding improving communications between
13 the department of children, youth, and families and caregivers. The
14 department shall consult with the caregiver communication specialist
15 established in section 1 of this act, current and former caregivers,
16 and youth who received or are receiving child welfare services
17 regarding the recommendations required under this subsection.
18 (2) This section expires April 1, 2026.
Passed by the House February 12, 2024.
Passed by the Senate March 1, 2024.
Approved by the Governor March 18, 2024.
Filed in Office of Secretary of State March 19, 2024.
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p. 2 SHB 1970.SL