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WA SB5643

Bill

Status

Introduced

2/3/2025

Primary Sponsor

Leonard Christian

Click for details

Origin

Senate

2025-2026 Regular Session

AI Summary

  • Expands mandatory child fatality reviews to include youth and individuals in juvenile rehabilitation facilities under chapter 13.40 RCW, not just those in child welfare services
  • Requires the Department of Children, Youth, and Families to conduct near fatality reviews (previously discretionary) when abuse or neglect is suspected for anyone in department care or services within the preceding year
  • Grants the Office of the Family and Children's Ombuds unrestricted online access to the juvenile rehabilitation case management system in addition to existing child welfare systems
  • Expands the definition of "near fatality" to explicitly include overdoses of controlled substances that place a child in serious or critical condition as certified by a physician
  • Requires fatality review reports to be issued within 180 days and posted on a public website, with confidential information redacted per applicable state and federal laws

Legislative Description

Expanding the purview of child fatality and near fatality reviews.

Last Action

By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.

1/12/2026

Committee Referrals

Ways & Means2/13/2025
Human Services2/3/2025

Full Bill Text

No bill text available