Family Law Section Bill Referrals - 2005 - Final Status
Washington State Bar Association
Section contact:  Rick Bartholomew
Bill Number Title Prime Notes Position Status Comments $
Bills the Section took position or sponsored:
HB 1139 Preventing conflicts of interest for attorneys serving as pro tempore judges, commissioners, and guardians ad litem. Upthegrove   Support Failed to pass 1/24/05 "support" per FLEC.  
SHB 1171 Limiting the court's discretion concerning denial of dissolution decrees. Dickerson   Support Chapter 55,  Laws of 2005.  Effective date 7/24/05. 1/18/05 to Section.  Support, but with sentence added that says nothing precludes the court from keeping open parenting issues or requiring parties to file a parentage action to determine or disestablish parentage, and change the language to say court cannot deny or delay the decree because of pregnancy.  Say can't continue "solely" because of pregnancy.  "Nothing precludes the court from ordering further proceedings to establish parentage in this or another action."  Support bill with this idea included.  
HB 1279 Revising provisions relating to public access to child in need of services and at-risk youth hearings. Kagi   Support Failed to pass 1/24/05 "support" per FLEC.  
SHB 1281 Adding to the list of persons who may give informed consent to medical care for minors and providing immunity to health care providers and facilities when they rely upon the representation of a person claiming to be responsible for the care of the minor. Pettigrew   Support Chapter 440, Laws of 2005.  Effective date 7/24/05. 1/19/05 to Section.  
HB 1294
(SB 5434)
Revising standards for antiharassment protection order hearings. Williams   Support Chapter 144, Laws of 2005.  Effective date 7/24/05. 1/20/05 to Section.  
HB 1403
(SB 5053)
Authorizing service by publication in actions to establish or modify parenting plans, for legal separation or invalidity of marriage, and for nonparental custody. Dickerson   Support Failed to pass 1/14/05 to Mark & Family Law. Family Law and WSBA sponsored.  
HB 1837 Providing for child witnesses. Rodne   Neutral Chapter 455, Laws of 2005.  Effective date 7/24/05. 2/8/05 to Section and Criminal Law. 2/28 no position per Rick.  
HB 2000 Enhancing grandparents' visitation rights. Kagi   Oppose Failed to pass 2/14/05 to Section. 2/28 Oppose per Rick, Family Law. We oppose this because there are two third party custody cases in the courts now. Any third party custody case should await the resolution of those cases so we know what the law needs to contain. This bill could be too restrictive or too liberal, depending on what the courts have to say. Same rational used for SB 5944.  
HB 2068 Creating an opportunity for children to testify in dissolution proceedings. Hasegawa   Oppose Failed to pass 2/16/05 to Section. 2/28 Oppose per Rick B, Family Law.  
HB 2119 Privatizing child support enforcement. Haler   Oppose Failed to pass 2/18/05 to Section.  2/28 "we have a good support enforcement system.  This is likely to take the more successful cases away from the state, probably costing both the state and the parties involved money.  Do you know where this bill came from?"  
HB 2122 Protecting confidentiality of domestic violence information. Ericks   Monitor Failed to pass 2/18/05 to Section. 2/28 "we are going to take another look at this next week. It seems to be inconsitent with the mandatory abuse reporting statute." f
HB 2139 Requiring parental consent for students to participate in sex education. Schindler   Oppose Failed to pass 2/21/05 to Section. 2/28/05 oppose  This is the bill that would require written permission from a parent or guardian for a child to be involved in sex ed at school.  We already have an opt-out provision.  This would require an opt-in.  Since most parenting plans call for joint decision-making regarding education, we can foresee cases in which parents are in court because they disagree on whether or not the kids should participate in sex ed.  
SHB 2156 Regarding dependency and termination of parental rights. Hinkle   Oppose Chapter 430, Laws of 2005.  Effective date 5/13/05. 2/21/05 to Section. 2/28 oppose per Rick, Family Law.  
SB 5053
(HB 1403)
Authorizing service by publication in actions to establish or modify parenting plans, for legal separation or invalidity of marriage, and for nonparental custody. Kline   Support Chapter 117, Laws of 2005.  Effective date 7/24/05. 1/13/05 to Section, Bartholomew, Henson.  Public hearing in Senate Judiciary 1/13.  
SSB 5081 Authorizing monitoring of a child's telephone conversations by a parent or guardian. Roach   Neutral Failed to pass 1/22/05 no position.  
SB 5133
(HB 1207)
Revising provisions relating to privileged communications between spouses. Brandland   Oppose Failed to pass 1/14/05 to Section.  
SB 5350 Providing a presumption of shared parental responsibility after a dissolution of marriage. Kastama   Oppose Failed to pass 1/21/05 to Section.  
SB 5875 Clarifying the interests of parents and alleged fathers under the juvenile court act. Hargrove   Support Failed to pass 2/10/05 to Section. 2/28 support per Rick, Family Law.  
SSB 5903 Requiring the director of the office of public defense to oversee and monitor legal representation of parents in dependency and termination proceedings. Stevens   Support Failed to pass 2/14/05 to Section.  2/28 support per Rick, Family Law. f
ESSB 5922 Changing procedures for investigations of child abuse or neglect. Stevens   Oppose Chapter 512, Laws of 2005 Partial Veto.  Effective date 1/1/07. 2/15/05 to Section.  2/28 oppose per Rick, Family Law.  
SB 5944 Regarding grandparent visitation. Kastama   Oppose Failed to pass 2/16/05 to Section. 2/28 oppose per Rick, Family Law.  Rational for opposition the same as HB 2000 - We oppose this because there are two third party custody cases in the courts now.  Any third party custody case should await the resolution of those cases so we know what the law needs to contain.  This bill could be too restrictive or too liberal, depending on what the courts have to say.  
SB 6007 Increasing child safety by requiring transition services in child placement matters. Finkbeiner   Oppose Failed to pass 2/21/05 to Section.  2/28 oppose per Rick, Family Law.  
Bills of interest to Section:
ESHB 1080 Protecting dependent persons. McDonald     Failed to pass 1/14/05 to Section. f
HB 1107
(SB 5141)
Providing for early intervention services for children with disabilities. Dickerson     Failed to pass 1/14/05 to Section.  SB 5141 companion. f
SHB 1173 Establishing family leave insurance. Dickerson     Failed to pass 1/18/05 to Family and Labor & Employment Section. f
SHB 1178 Ensuring the rights of parents to monitor the communications and conversations of their minor children. McDonald     Failed to pass 1/18/05 to Section  
HB 1269
(SB 5616)
Permitting members of the law enforcement officers' and fire fighters' retirement system plan 2 to make a one-time purchase of additional service credit. Conway     Chapter 21, Laws of 2005.  Effective date 7/1/06. 1/19/05 to Section. f
HB 1296
(SB 5435)
Granting the municipal courts jurisdiction for antiharassment protection orders. Lovick     Chapter 196, Laws of 2005.  Effective date 7/24/05. 1/20/05 to Section.  
ESHB 1314 Creating the domestic violence prevention account. Dickerson     Chapter 374, Laws of 2005.  Effective date 7/24/05. 1/20/05 to Section. f
HB 1319
(SB 5247)
Survivor benefits for ex spouses in the law enforcement officers' and fire fighters' retirement system, plan 1. Conway     Chapter 62, Laws of 2005.  Effective date 7/24/05. 1/20/05 to Section. f
E2SHB 1441 Providing access to health insurance for children. Clibborn     Chapter 279, Laws of 2005 Partial Veto.  Effective date 7/24/05. 1/24/05 to Section.  
SHB 1482 Revising provisions on child abuse and neglect. Dickerson     Failed to pass 1/25/05 to Section. f
HB 1508 Creating a hearsay exception for statements offered against a party that has engaged or acquiesced in wrongdoing. Lantz     Failed to pass 1/26/05 to BOG, Criminal , Litigation, Business and Family Law  
HB 1626 Modifying family care law. Dickerson     Failed to pass 1/31/05 to Section.  
SHB 1660 Expanding the definition of "at-risk youth." Moeller     Failed to pass 2/1/05 to Section.  
HB 1671
(SB 5737)
Allowing attorneys to recover actual costs for service of process. Kirby     Failed to pass 2/1/05 to Section, BOG and Litigation.  
HB 2002 Authorizing limited continuing foster care and support services up to age twenty-one. Dickerson     Failed to pass 2/14/05 to Section. f
2SHB 2030 Revising provisions relating to guardianship of dependent children. Roberts     Failed to pass 2/15/05 to Section.  
HB 2039 Changing provisions relating to mental health services for children. Roberts     Failed to pass 2/15/05 to Section. f
SHB 2061 Requiring disposition to be held in juvenile court in certain circumstances when a case is automatically transferred to adult court. Darneille     Chapter 238, Laws of 2005.  Effective date 7/24/05. 2/16/05 to Criminal Law and Family Law Section.  
HB 2064 Clarifying provisions relating to automatic transfer of jurisdiction from juvenile court. Roberts     Chapter 290, Laws of 2005.  Effective date 7/24/05. 2/16/05 to Criminal Law and Family Law Section. f
HB 2087 Allowing the vacation of domestic violence misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor convictions. Lantz     Failed to pass 2/17/05 to Family Law and Criminal Section. f
HB 2153 Revising provisions pertaining to at-risk youth proceedings. Moeller     Failed to pass 2/21/05 to Family Law and Criminal Law Section. f
HB 2154 Providing additional protections for domestic violence victims. Pettigrew     Failed to pass 2/21/05 to Section.  
HB 2247 Protecting minors from sexual misconduct. Nixon     Failed to pass 2/28/05 to Criminal and Family Law.  
HB 2264 Ordering a report on the we care plan agency response matrix for drug endangered children. Takko     Failed to pass 3/1/05 to Section.  
HJR 4207 Protecting the name of marriage, protecting the legal incidents of marriage and limiting court jurisdiction over marriage. Holmquist     Failed to pass 1/31/05 to Section.  
HJR 4208 Limiting court jurisdiction over marriage. Talcott     Failed to pass 1/31/05 to Section.  
SB 5141
(HB 1107)
Providing for early intervention services for children with disabilities. Rasmussen     Failed to pass 1/14/05 to Section.  HB 1107 companion f
SB 5247
(HB 1319)
Survivor benefits for ex spouses in the law enforcement officers' and fire fighters' retirement system, plan 1. Morton     Failed to pass 1/18/05 to Section. f
ESSB 5308 Changing provisions relating to mandatory reporting of child abuse or neglect. Kohl-Welles     Chapter 417, Laws of 2005.  Effective date 7/24/05. 1/19/05 to Section.  
SB 5434
(HB 1294)
Revising standards for antiharassment protection order hearings. Kline     Failed to pass 1/25/05 to Section.  
SB 5435
(HB 1296)
Granting the municipal courts jurisdiction for antiharassment protection orders. Kline     Failed to pass 1/25/05 to Section.  
SSB 5633 Revising provisions relating to retention of information concerning unfounded allegations of child abuse or neglect.  Revised for 1st Substitute: Convening a work group to recommend standards for communication of information concerning dependent children. Carrell     Failed to pass 1/31/05 to Section.  
SSB 5666 Regarding information sharing in child dependency cases. Stevens     Failed to pass 2/1/05 to Section.  
SB 5696 Requiring newspapers to comply with child labor laws. Benton     Failed to pass 2/2/05 to Section.  
SB 5718 Providing financial assistance for victims of domestic violence seeking protection orders. Hargrove     Failed to pass 2/3/05 to Section. f
SSB 5849 Requiring cyberbullying to be included in school district harassment prevention policies. Kohl-Welles     Failed to pass 2/9/05 to Section.  
SSB 5850 Clarifying the definition of "sick leave" for family leave. Spanel     Chapter 499, Laws of 2005.  Effective date 7/24/05. 2/9/05 to Section and Labor & Employment Section. f
ESSB 5872 Creating the department of family and children's services.  Revised for 1st Substitute: Requiring findings and recommendations regarding a department of family and children's services.(REVISED FOR ENGROSSED:  Creating a task force on the administrative organization, structure, and delivery of services to children and families.) Stevens     Chapter 474, Laws of 2005.  Effective date 7/24/05. 2/10/05 to Section. f
SSB 5873 Revising the duties of the family and children's ombudsman. Stevens     Failed to pass 2/10/05 to Section.  
SSB 5995 Recognizing a parent's preference in the placement of a child in shelter care. Hargrove     Failed to pass 2/18/05 to Section.  
SB 5996 Providing a procedure for court-ordered contact with a child for nonparents. Franklin     Failed to pass 2/18/05 to Section.  
SSB 6008 Revising provisions relating to guardianship of dependent children. Hargrove     Failed to pass 2/21/05 to Section.  
SSB 6028 Adopting the service members' civil relief act. Benson     Failed to pass 2/24/05 Bill sponsor Sen. Benson's office called today and wants to know if we care about this bill. Also sent to Family, Creditor/Debtor, Real Property and Business, banking committee to see if they have any problems wtih it. Also sent to BOG. Asked Sections for quick reply if they see any problems with this bill.  
SJR 8209 Amending the Constitution to limit which relationships may be recognized as a marriage. Swecker     Failed to pass 2/3/05 to Section.