HB1194 requires that the first parent-child visit (when children have been placed into out of home care) must take place within 72 hours of removal, unless the court finds that extraordinary circumstances require delay.
Further, HB1194 amends current RCW such that previously court-ordered supervised or monitored visitation between a parent and child shall have a presumption that such supervision will no longer be necessary following a case conference under this section. To overcome this presumption, the department must provide evidence during the case conference establishing that removing visit supervision or monitoring would create a risk to the child’s safety.
Substitute Bill:
- The substitute bill removes reference to the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) providing evidence during case conferences as that is not a court hearing.
- The substitute bill uses consistent language requiring the DCYF to provide a report to the court including evidence establishing that removing visit supervision or monitoring would create a risk to the child’s safety when overcoming the presumption that visit supervision or monitoring is no longer necessary following a permanency planning hearing, review hearing, and continued shelter care hearing.
- The substitute bill requires the court to make a determination after receiving a report from the DCYF requesting that visit supervision or monitoring continue.
Amendments:
- Allows the first visit between a child and parent that occurs within 72 hours after a child is removed from a parent to occur in a remote format if it is not possible to arrange an in person visit.
- Requires that the first visit between a parent and child following the removal of that child from the parent must be supervised unless the court orders that visit supervision is not necessary.
- Requires that the first visit between a parent and child following the removal of that child from the parent be supervised unless the Department of Children, Youth, and Families determines that visit supervision is not necessary.
- Allows any party to a dependency case to provide a report to the court including evidence establishing that removing visit supervision or monitoring would create a risk to the child’s safety instead of only specifying that the Department of Children, Youth, and Families must submit this report
- Specifies that a visit must occur between a parent and child within 72 hours of the child’s removal; and
- Makes a technical correction.
