WA HB2529

Reconstitutes the existing oversight board as the "Department of Children, Youth, and Families Accountability Board," housed in the Office of Financial Management for administrative purposes, to provide independent oversight of DCYF operations, policies, and outcomes

Board membership includes 19 members: 4 legislators (bipartisan), 1 nonvoting governor's office representative, subject matter experts in early learning, child welfare, juvenile rehabilitation, and eliminating disparities, 2 tribal representatives, and representatives from foster care, advocacy organizations, law enforcement, healthcare, and the judiciary

Grants the board authority to receive reports and request investigations from the Office of the Family and Children's Ombuds, access relevant department records, request information and outcome data from DCYF, and determine whether the department is meeting performance measures

Requires the board to meet at least twice yearly with community stakeholders and submit biennial reports to the governor and legislature starting July 1, 2027, assessing progress on performance measures selected by the board

Removes obsolete statutory provisions related to the original 2017-2019 implementation timeline and streamlines oversight responsibilities while maintaining confidentiality requirements for records received by the board