The bill aims to modernize the child fatality statute in Washington State by amending RCW 70.05.170. Key changes include updating the terminology from "child mortality" to "child fatality" and raising the age limit for review from under eighteen to under nineteen years. The legislation emphasizes the importance of conducting child fatality reviews to identify preventable causes of child deaths and provides legal protections for families, health department officials, and healthcare professionals involved in these reviews.

Additionally, the bill enhances the confidentiality of information collected during child fatality reviews, allowing local health departments to retain identifiable information for trend analysis while ensuring that such information remains protected from public disclosure. It also mandates that various entities, including healthcare providers and law enforcement, must provide necessary data for these reviews. The bill encourages collaboration among local health departments and the state department to improve child fatality prevention strategies while ensuring that individual case details are kept confidential.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 70.05.170