SB 6184

S-4733.1
  SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 6184
State of Washington  69th Legislature        2026 Regular Session
By Senate Human Services (originally sponsored by Senators C. Wilson,
Nobles, Saldaña, Trudeau, and Wellman; by request of Department of
Commerce)
READ FIRST TIME 02/04/26.
1      AN ACT Relating to updating the office of homeless youth program
2  provisions; amending RCW 43.185C.280, 43.185C.285, 43.185C.315,
3  43.185C.320,   43.185C.340,   43.330.702,    43.330.710, 43.330.724,
4  43.330.726, and 43.63A.305; reenacting and amending RCW 43.185C.010
5  and 74.15.020; and providing an effective date.
6  BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
7     Sec. 1. RCW 43.185C.010 and 2023 c 277 s 2 and 2023 c 151 s 3
8 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:
9     The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter
10 unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
11     (1) "Administrator" means the individual who has the daily
12 administrative responsibility of a crisis residential center.
13     (2) "Child in need of services petition" means a petition filed
14 in juvenile court by a parent, child, or the department of children,
15 youth, and families seeking adjudication of placement of the child.
16     (3) "Community action agency" means a nonprofit private or public
17 organization established under the economic opportunity act of 1964.
18     (4) "Crisis residential center" means a secure or semi-secure
19 facility established pursuant to chapter 74.13 RCW.
20     (5) "Department" means the department of commerce.
21     (6) "Director" means the director of the department of commerce.
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1     (7) "Home security fund account" means the state treasury account
2 receiving income from revenue under RCW 36.22.250(2)(c), and all
3 other sources directed to the homeless housing and assistance
4 program.
5     (8) "Homeless housing grant program" means the vehicle by which
6 competitive grants are awarded by the department, utilizing moneys
7 from the home security fund account, to local governments for
8 programs directly related to housing homeless individuals and
9 families, addressing the root causes of homelessness, preventing
10 homelessness, collecting data on homeless individuals, and other
11 efforts directly related to housing homeless persons.
12     (9) "Homeless housing plan" means the five-year plan developed by
13 the county or other local government to address housing for homeless
14 persons.
15     (10) "Homeless housing program" means the program authorized
16 under this chapter as administered by the department at the state
17 level and by the local government or its designated subcontractor at
18 the local level.
19     (11) "Homeless housing strategic plan" means the five-year plan
20 developed by the department, in consultation with the interagency
21 council on homelessness, the affordable housing advisory board, and
22 the state advisory council on homelessness.
23     (12) "Homeless person" means an individual living outside or in a
24 building not meant for human habitation or which they have no legal
25 right to occupy, in an emergency shelter, or in a temporary housing
26 program which may include a transitional and supportive housing
27 program if habitation time limits exist. This definition includes
28 substance abusers, people with mental illness, and sex offenders who
29 are homeless.
30     (13) "HOPE center" means an agency licensed by the secretary of
31 the department of children, youth, and families to provide temporary
32 residential placement and other services to ((street)) unaccompanied
33 homeless youth. ((A street)) An unaccompanied homeless youth may
34 remain in a HOPE center for 90 days while services are arranged and
35 permanent placement is coordinated. No ((street)) unaccompanied
36 homeless youth may stay longer than 90 days unless approved by the
37 department and any additional days approved by the department must be
38 based on the unavailability of a long-term placement option. ((A
39 street)) An unaccompanied homeless youth whose parent wants him or
40 her returned to home may remain in a HOPE center until his or her
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1 parent arranges return of the youth, not longer. All other ((street))
2 unaccompanied homeless youth must have court approval under chapter
3 13.34 or 13.32A RCW to remain in a HOPE center up to 90 days.
4     (14) "Housing authority" means any of the public corporations
5 created by chapter 35.82 RCW.
6     (15) "Housing continuum" means the progression of individuals
7 along a housing-focused continuum with homelessness at one end and
8 homeownership at the other.
9     (16) "Interagency council on homelessness" means a committee
10 appointed by the governor and consisting of, at least, policy level
11 representatives of the following entities: (a) The department of
12 commerce; (b) the department of corrections; (c) the department of
13 children, youth, and families; (d) the department of veterans
14 affairs; and (e) the department of health.
15     (17) "Local government" means a county government in the state of
16 Washington or a city government, if the legislative authority of the
17 city affirmatively elects to accept the responsibility for housing
18 homeless persons within its borders.
19     (18) "Local homeless housing task force" means a voluntary local
20 committee created to advise a local government on the creation of a
21 local homeless housing plan and participate in a local homeless
22 housing program. It must include a representative of the county, a
23 representative of the largest city located within the county, at
24 least one homeless or formerly homeless person, such other members as
25 may be required to maintain eligibility for federal funding related
26 to housing programs and services and if feasible, a representative of
27 a private nonprofit organization with experience in low-income
28 housing.
29     (19) "Long-term private or public housing" means subsidized and
30 unsubsidized rental or owner-occupied housing in which there is no
31 established time limit for habitation of less than two years.
32     (20) "Performance measurement" means the process of comparing
33 specific measures of success against ultimate and interim goals.
34     (21) "Secure facility" means a crisis residential center, or
35 portion thereof, that has locking doors, locking windows, or a
36 secured perimeter, designed and operated to prevent a child from
37 leaving without permission of the facility staff.
38     (22) "Semi-secure facility" means any facility including, but not
39 limited to, crisis residential centers or specialized foster family
40 homes, operated in a manner to reasonably assure that youth placed
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1 there will not run away. Pursuant to rules established by the
2 facility administrator, the facility administrator shall establish
3 reasonable hours for residents to come and go from the facility such
4 that no residents are free to come and go at all hours of the day and
5 night. To prevent residents from taking unreasonable actions, the
6 facility administrator, where appropriate, may condition a resident's
7 leaving the facility upon the resident being accompanied by the
8 administrator or the administrator's designee and the resident may be
9 required to notify the administrator or the administrator's designee
10 of any intent to leave, his or her intended destination, and the
11 probable time of his or her return to the center.
12     (23) "Staff secure facility" means a structured group care
13 facility licensed under rules adopted by the department of children,
14 youth, and families with a ratio of at least one adult staff member
15 to every two children.
16     (24) "Street outreach services" means a program that provides
17 services and resources either directly or through referral to
18 ((street)) unaccompanied homeless youth and ((unaccompanied)) young
19 adults as defined in RCW 43.330.702. Services including crisis
20 intervention, emergency supplies, case management, and referrals may
21 be provided through community-based outreach or drop-in centers.
22     (25) "Washington homeless census" means an annual statewide
23 census conducted as a collaborative effort by towns, cities,
24 counties, community-based organizations, and state agencies, with the
25 technical support and coordination of the department, to count and
26 collect data on all homeless individuals in Washington.
27     (26) "Washington homeless client management information system"
28 means a database of information about homeless individuals in the
29 state used to coordinate resources to assist homeless clients to
30 obtain and retain housing and reach greater levels of self-
31 sufficiency or economic independence when appropriate, depending upon
32 their individual situations.
33     Sec. 2. RCW 43.185C.280 and 2015 c 69 s 16 are each amended to
34 read as follows:
35     (1) The administrator of a designated crisis residential center
36 shall perform the duties under subsection (3) of this section:
37     (a) Upon admitting a child who has been brought to the center by
38 a law enforcement officer under RCW 43.185C.265;
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1     (b) Upon admitting a child who has run away from home or has
2 requested admittance to the center;
3     (c) Upon learning from a person under RCW 13.32A.082 that the
4 person is providing shelter to a child absent from home; or
5     (d) Upon learning that a child has been placed with a responsible
6 adult pursuant to RCW 43.185C.265.
7     (2) Transportation expenses of the child shall be at the parent's
8 expense to the extent of his or her ability to pay, with any unmet
9 transportation expenses assumed by the crisis residential center.
10     (3) When any of the circumstances under subsection (1) of this
11 section are present, the administrator of a center shall perform the
12 following duties:
13     (a) Immediately notify the child's parent of the child's
14 whereabouts, physical and emotional condition, and the circumstances
15 surrounding his or her placement, unless a compelling reason exists
16 as defined in RCW 13.32A.082;
17     (b) Initially notify the parent that it is the paramount concern
18 of the family reconciliation service personnel to achieve a
19 reconciliation between the parent and child to reunify the family and
20 inform the parent as to the procedures to be followed under this
21 chapter;
22     (c) Inform the parent whether a referral to children's protective
23 services has been made and, if so, inform the parent of the standard
24 pursuant to RCW 26.44.020(1) governing child abuse and neglect in
25 this state; and either
26     (d)(i) Arrange transportation for the child to the residence of
27 the parent, as soon as practicable, when the child and his or her
28 parent agrees to the child's return home or when the parent produces
29 a copy of a court order entered under this chapter requiring the
30 child to reside in the parent's home; or
31     (ii) Arrange transportation for the child to: (A) An out-of-home
32 placement which may include a licensed group care facility or foster
33 family when agreed to by the child and parent; or (B) a certified or
34 licensed mental health or chemical dependency program of the parent's
35 choice.
36     (4) If the administrator of the crisis residential center
37 performs the duties listed in subsection (3) of this section, he or
38 she shall also notify the department of ((social and health
39 services)) children, youth, and families that a child has been
40 admitted to the crisis residential center.
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1     Sec. 3. RCW 43.185C.285 and 2018 c 58 s 60 are each amended to
2 read as follows:
3     The administrator of a crisis residential center shall notify
4 parents unless a compelling reason exists as defined in RCW
5 13.32A.082, and the appropriate law enforcement agency as to any
6 unauthorized leave from the center by a child placed at the center.
7 The administrator shall also notify the department of children,
8 youth, and families immediately as to any unauthorized leave from the
9 center by a child who is in the care of or receiving services from
10 the department of children, youth, and families.
11     Sec. 4. RCW 43.185C.315 and 2019 c 124 s 3 are each amended to
12 read as follows:
13     (1) The department shall establish HOPE centers across the state
14 and may establish HOPE centers by contract, within funds appropriated
15 by the legislature specifically for this purpose. HOPE centers shall
16 be operated in a manner to reasonably assure that ((street))
17 unaccompanied homeless youth placed there will not run away. Pursuant
18 to rules established by the facility administrator, residents may
19 come and go from the facility at reasonable hours such that no
20 residents are free to come and go at all hours of the day and night.
21 The facility administrator, where appropriate, may condition a
22 resident's leaving the facility upon the resident being accompanied
23 by the administrator or the administrator's designee and the resident
24 may be required to notify the administrator or the administrator's
25 designee of any intent to leave, his or her intended destination, and
26 the probable time of his or her return to the HOPE center. Any
27 ((street)) unaccompanied homeless youth who runs away from a HOPE
28 center shall not be readmitted unless specifically authorized by the
29 ((street)) unaccompanied homeless youth's placement and liaison
30 specialist, and the placement and liaison specialist shall document
31 with specific factual findings an appropriate basis for readmitting
32 any ((street)) unaccompanied homeless youth to a HOPE center. HOPE
33 centers are required to have the following:
34     (a) A license issued by the department of children, youth, and
35 families, including staff who meet licensing qualifications;
36     (b) A case manager who may be a contractual or a part-time
37 employee, but must be available to work with ((street)) unaccompanied
38 homeless youth in a HOPE center at a ratio of one to every
39 ((fifteen)) 15 youth staying in a HOPE center. This case manager
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1 shall be known as a placement and liaison specialist. Preference
2 shall be given to those case managers who have experience working
3 with adolescents and are cross-credentialed in mental health and
4 chemical dependency. The placement and liaison specialist shall:
5     (i) Conduct an assessment of the ((street)) unaccompanied
6 homeless youth that includes a determination of the ((street))
7 unaccompanied homeless youth's legal status regarding residential
8 placement;
9     (ii) Facilitate the ((street)) unaccompanied homeless youth's
10 return to his or her legally authorized residence at the earliest
11 possible date or initiate processes to arrange legally authorized
12 appropriate placement. Any ((street)) unaccompanied homeless youth
13 who may meet the definition of dependent child under RCW 13.34.030
14 must be referred to the department of children, youth, and families.
15 The department of children, youth, and families shall determine
16 whether a dependency petition should be filed under chapter 13.34
17 RCW. A shelter care hearing must be held within ((seventy-two)) 72
18 hours to authorize out-of-home placement for any youth the department
19 of children, youth, and families determines is appropriate for out-
20 of-home placement under chapter 13.34 RCW. All of the provisions of
21 chapter 13.32A RCW must be followed for children in need of services
22 or at-risk youth;
23     (iii) Interface with other relevant resources and system
24 representatives to secure long-term residential placement and other
25 needed services for the ((street)) unaccompanied homeless youth;
26     (iv) Be assigned immediately to each youth and meet with the
27 youth within eight hours of the youth receiving HOPE center services;
28     (v)   Facilitate  a   physical  examination   of  any   ((street))
29 unaccompanied homeless youth who has not seen a physician within one
30 year prior to residence at a HOPE center and facilitate evaluation by
31 a county-designated mental health professional, a chemical dependency
32 specialist, or both if appropriate; and
33     (vi) Arrange an educational assessment to measure the ((street))
34 unaccompanied homeless youth's competency level in reading, writing,
35 and basic mathematics, and that will measure learning disabilities or
36 special needs;
37     (c)   Staff   trained   in   development   needs   of   ((street))
38 unaccompanied homeless youth as determined by the department,
39 including but not limited to an on-site program manager who must work
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1 with the placement and liaison specialist to provide appropriate
2 services on-site;
3     (d) A data collection system that measures outcomes for the
4 population served, and enables research and evaluation that can be
5 used for future program development and service delivery. Data
6 collection systems must have confidentiality rules and protocols
7 developed by the department;
8     (e)   Notification  requirements  that   meet   the  notification
9 requirements of chapter 13.32A RCW. The youth's arrival date and time
10 must be logged at intake by HOPE center staff. The staff must
11 immediately notify law enforcement and dependency caseworkers if ((a
12 street)) an unaccompanied homeless youth runs away from a HOPE
13 center. A child may be transferred to a secure facility as defined in
14 RCW 13.32A.030 whenever the staff reasonably believes that ((a
15 street)) an unaccompanied homeless youth is likely to leave the HOPE
16 center and not return after full consideration of the factors set
17 forth in RCW 43.185C.290(2)(a) (i) and (ii). The ((street))
18 unaccompanied homeless youth's temporary placement in the HOPE center
19 must be authorized by the court or the secretary of the department of
20 children, youth, and families if the youth is a dependent of the
21 state under chapter 13.34 RCW or the department of children, youth,
22 and families is responsible for the youth under chapter 13.32A RCW,
23 or by the youth's parent or legal custodian, until such time as the
24 parent can retrieve the youth who is returning to home;
25     (f) HOPE centers must identify to the department of children,
26 youth, and families any ((street)) unaccompanied homeless youth it
27 serves who is not returning promptly to home. The department of
28 children, youth, and families then must contact the missing
29 children's clearinghouse identified in chapter 13.60 RCW and either
30 report the youth's location or report that the youth is the subject
31 of a dependency action and the parent should receive notice from the
32 department of children, youth, and families; and
33     (g) Services that provide counseling and education to the
34 ((street)) unaccompanied homeless youth.
35     (2) The department shall award contracts for the operation of
36 HOPE center beds with the goal of facilitating the coordination of
37 services provided for youth by such programs and those services
38 provided by secure and semi-secure crisis residential centers.
39     (3) Subject to funds appropriated for this purpose, the
40 department must incrementally increase the number of available HOPE
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1 beds by at least ((seventeen)) 17 beds in fiscal year 2017, at least
2 ((seventeen)) 17 beds in fiscal year 2018, and at least ((seventeen))
3 17 beds in fiscal year 2019, such that by July 1, 2019, ((seventy-
4 five)) 75 HOPE beds are established and operated throughout the state
5 as set forth in subsection (1) of this section.
6     (4) Subject to funds appropriated for this purpose, the beds
7 available in HOPE centers shall be increased incrementally. The
8 additional capacity shall be distributed around the state based upon
9 need and, to the extent feasible, shall be geographically situated so
10 that HOPE beds are available across the state. In determining the
11 need for increased numbers of HOPE beds in a particular county or
12 counties, one of the considerations should be the volume of truancy
13 petitions filed there.
14     Sec. 5. RCW 43.185C.320 and 2017 c 277 s 8 are each amended to
15 read as follows:
16     To be eligible for placement in a HOPE center, a minor must be
17 either ((a street)) an unaccompanied homeless youth((, as that term
18 is defined in this chapter,)) or a youth who, without placement in a
19 HOPE center, will continue to participate in increasingly risky
20 behavior, including truancy. Youth may also self-refer to a HOPE
21 center.
22     Sec. 6. RCW 43.185C.340 and 2023 c 386 s 2 are each amended to
23 read as follows:
24     (1) Subject to funds appropriated for this specific purpose, the
25 department shall administer a grant program that links students
26 experiencing homelessness and their families with stable housing
27 located in the student's school district. The goals of the program
28 are to:
29     (a) Provide educational stability for students experiencing
30 homelessness by promoting housing stability; and
31     (b) Encourage the development of collaborative strategies between
32 housing and education partners.
33     (2) To ensure that innovative strategies between housing and
34 education partners are developed and implemented, the department may
35 contract and consult with a designated vendor to provide technical
36 assistance and program evaluation, assist with making grant awards,
37 and support collaboration between the department and the office of
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1 the superintendent of public instruction. If the department contracts
2 with a vendor, the vendor must be selected by the director and:
3     (a) Be a nonprofit vendor;
4     (b) Be located in Washington state; and
5     (c) Have a demonstrated record of working toward the housing and
6 educational   stability   of   students  and   families   experiencing
7 homelessness.
8     (3) In implementing the program, the department, or the
9 department in partnership with its designated vendor, shall consult
10 with the office of the superintendent of public instruction.
11     (4)(a) The department, or the designated vendor in consultation
12 with the department, shall develop a competitive grant process to
13 make grant awards to eligible organizations on implementation of the
14 proposal.   For   the   purposes   of   this   subsection,   "eligible
15 organization" means any local government, local housing authority,
16 behavioral health administrative services organization established
17 under chapter 71.24 RCW, behavioral health organization, nonprofit
18 community or neighborhood-based organization, federally recognized
19 Indian tribe in the state of Washington, or regional or statewide
20 nonprofit housing assistance organization. Applications for the grant
21 program must include a letter of support from the applicable school
22 districts. Within 60 days of receiving a grant award under this
23 section, a memorandum of understanding must be established between
24 the   housing   providers   and   school    districts  defining   the
25 responsibilities and commitments of each party to identify, house,
26 and support students experiencing homelessness. The memorandum must
27 include:
28     (i) How housing providers will partner with school districts to
29 address gaps and needs and develop sustainable strategies to help
30 students experiencing homelessness; and
31     (ii) How data on students experiencing homelessness and their
32 families will be collected and shared in accordance with privacy
33 protections under applicable federal and state laws.
34     (b) If a memorandum of understanding cannot be established as
35 required by (a) of this subsection, the housing provider and school
36 districts may work with the department on a case-by-case basis to
37 provide, in lieu of a memorandum of understanding, a detailed
38 accountability plan for a partnership between the housing provider
39 and the school districts.
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1     (5) In determining which eligible organizations will receive
2 grants, the department must ensure that selected grantees reflect
3 geographic diversity across the state. Greater weight shall be given
4 to eligible organizations that demonstrate a commitment to:
5     (a) Partnering with local schools or school districts as
6 demonstrated by a letter of support; and
7     (b) Developing and implementing evidence-informed strategies to
8 address racial inequities. Specific strategies may include, but are
9 not limited to:
10     (i) Hiring direct service staff who reflect the racial, cultural,
11 and language demographics of the population being served;
12     (ii) Committing to inclusive programming by intentionally seeking
13 and utilizing input from the population being served;
14     (iii) Ensuring eligibility criteria does not unintentionally
15 screen out people of color and further racial inequity; and
16     (iv) Creating access points in locations frequented by parents,
17 guardians, and unaccompanied homeless youth of color.
18     (6) Activities eligible for assistance under this grant program
19 include but are not limited to:
20     (a) Rental assistance, which includes utilities, security and
21 utility deposits, first and last month's rent, rental application
22 fees, moving expenses, and other eligible expenses to be determined
23 by the department;
24     (b) Transportation assistance, including gasoline assistance for
25 students and families with vehicles and bus passes;
26     (c) Emergency shelter;
27     (d) Housing stability case management; and
28     (e) Other collaborative housing strategies, including prevention
29 and strength-based safety and housing approaches.
30     (7)(a) All beneficiaries of funds from the grant program must be
31 from households that include at least one student experiencing
32 homelessness as defined as a child or youth ((without a fixed,
33 regular, and adequate nighttime residence in accordance with the
34 federal McKinney-Vento homeless assistance act, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 11431
35 through 11435)) who is homeless as defined in RCW 43.330.702.
36     (b) For the purposes of this section, "student experiencing
37 homelessness" includes unaccompanied homeless youth not in the
38 physical custody of a parent or guardian. "Unaccompanied homeless
39 youth" includes students up to the age of twenty-one, in alignment
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1 with    the   qualifications   for   school    admissions  under   RCW
2 28A.225.160(1).
3      (8)(a) Grantee organizations must compile and report information
4 to the department. The department shall report to the legislature the
5 findings of the grantee, the housing stability of the homeless
6 families, and any related policy recommendations.
7      (b) Grantees must track and report on the following measures
8 including, but not limited to:
9      (i) Length of time enrolled in the grant program;
10      (ii) Housing destination at program exit;
11      (iii) Type of residence prior to enrollment in the grant program;
12 and
13     (iv) Number of times homeless in the past three years.
14     (c) Grantees must also include in their reports a narrative
15 description discussing its partnership with school districts as set
16 forth in the memorandum outlined in subsection (4) of this section.
17 Reports must also include the kinds of supports grantees are
18 providing students and families to support academic learning.
19     (d) Data on all program participants must be entered into and
20 tracked through the Washington homeless client management information
21 system as described in RCW 43.185C.180.
22     (9) In order to ensure that housing providers are meeting the
23 requirements   of   the  grant  program   for  students   experiencing
24 homelessness, the department, or the department in partnership with
25 its designee, shall monitor the program at least once every two
26 years.
27     (10) Any program review and monitoring under this section may be
28 conducted concurrently with other program reviews and monitoring
29 conducted by the department. In its review, the department, or the
30 department in partnership with its designee, shall monitor program
31 components that include the process used by the eligible organization
32 to identify and reach out to students experiencing homelessness, and
33 other indicators to determine how well the eligible organization is
34 meeting the housing needs of students experiencing homelessness. The
35 department, or the department in partnership with its designee, shall
36 provide technical assistance and support to housing providers to
37 better implement the program.
38     (11) The department is subject to the requirements established in
39 RCW 28A.300.542(9).
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1     Sec. 7.   RCW 43.330.702 and 2015 c 69 s 3 are each amended to
2 read as follows:
3     The definitions in this section apply throughout this subchapter
4 unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
5     (1)   "Child,"  "juvenile,"   "youth,"  and  "minor"   means  any
6 unemancipated individual who is under the chronological age of
7 ((eighteen)) 18 years. A homeless young adult under age 21 residing
8 in a transitional living program for unaccompanied homeless youth at
9 the time the young adult reaches the age of 18 may be considered a
10 child for the purposes of continued placement in licensed group care
11 facilities under chapter 74.15 RCW. A young adult who is not
12 dependent under chapter 13.34 RCW is not considered a "child" under
13 any other section or for any other purpose.
14     (2) "Homeless" means without a fixed, regular, and adequate
15 nighttime residence as set forth in the federal McKinney-Vento
16 homeless assistance act, P.L. 100–77, July 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 482,
17 and runaway and homeless youth act, P.L. 93–415, Title III, September
18 7, 1974, 88 Stat. 1129.
19     (3) "Runaway" means an unmarried and unemancipated minor who is
20 absent from the home of a parent or guardian or other lawful
21 placement without the consent of the parent, guardian, or lawful
22 custodian.
23     (4) (("Street youth" means a person under the age of eighteen who
24 lives outdoors or in another unsafe location not intended for
25 occupancy by the minor and who is not residing with his or her parent
26 or at his or her legally authorized residence.
27     (5))) "Unaccompanied" means a youth or young adult experiencing
28 homelessness while not in the physical custody of a parent or
29 guardian.
30     (((6))) (5) "Young adult" means a person between ((eighteen)) 18
31 and ((twenty-four)) 24 years of age. An emancipated minor may be
32 considered a young adult for the purposes of eligibility for programs
33 administered by the office of homeless youth.
34     Sec. 8.   RCW 43.330.710 and 2019 c 124 s 6 are each amended to
35 read as follows:
36     (1)(a) The office of homeless youth prevention and protection
37 programs shall report to the director or the director's designee.
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1     (b)(i) The office of homeless youth prevention and protection
2 programs may distribute grants to providers who serve homeless youth
3 and young adults throughout the state.
4     (ii) The grants must fund services in the five key components in
5 RCW 43.330.700.
6     (iii) The grants must be expended on a statewide basis and may be
7 used to support direct services, as well as technical assistance,
8 evaluation, and capacity building.
9     (iv) Grant funds used to provide flexible financial assistance
10 may be provided directly to eligible youth and young adults or a
11 third-party vendor such as a landlord in order to promote the housing
12 stability of the program participant.
13     (2) The office of homeless youth prevention and protection
14 programs shall provide management and oversight guidance and
15 direction to the following programs:
16     (a) HOPE centers as described in RCW 43.185C.315;
17     (b) Crisis residential centers as described in RCW 43.185C.295;
18     (c) Street outreach services as defined in RCW 43.185C.010;
19     (d) Independent youth housing programs as described in RCW
20 43.63A.305.
21     Sec. 9.   RCW 43.330.724 and 2022 c 137 s 4 are each amended to
22 read as follows:
23     (1) Subject to the amounts appropriated for this specific
24 purpose, the office of homeless youth prevention and protection
25 programs shall select, monitor, and provide funding and assistance
26 ((for a minimum of six total)) to counties that implement housing
27 stability for youth in ((crisis)) courts programs as described in
28 this section ((for a period of three years)).
29     (2) The housing stability for youth in ((crisis)) courts pilot
30 programs must include the following components:
31     (a) Regular trainings provided to all appropriate juvenile court
32 staff regarding risk factors and identifiers for youth homelessness;
33     (b) An identification and referral system used throughout the
34 juvenile court system where all appropriate court staff use routine
35 data flags to identify youth at risk for youth homelessness and refer
36 youth to the housing stability coordinator described under (c) of
37 this subsection;
38     (c)   A   dedicated   housing  stability    coordinator  in   each
39 participating county that receives referrals, conducts housing
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1 stability assessments with youth and caregivers, connects youth and
2 caregivers with relevant community providers based on assessments,
3 and follows up on referrals;
4     (d) A model of homelessness prevention services that provides the
5 appropriate amount of intervention based on the youth or family
6 needs; and
7     (e)   Coordinated   housing  services   for  youth    experiencing
8 homelessness.
9     (3) By October 1, 2025, and in compliance with RCW 43.01.036, the
10 office of homeless youth prevention and protection programs shall
11 submit a report to the relevant committees of the legislature and the
12 governor that includes:
13     (a) An evaluation of the housing stability for youth in
14 ((crisis))   courts   programs  that   includes   outcome   data   for
15 participants;
16     (b) Recommendations for improving the housing stability for youth
17 in ((crisis)) courts programs; and
18     (c) Recommendation for expanding the housing stability for youth
19 in ((crisis)) courts programs.
20     (((4) This section expires July 1, 2026.))
21     Sec. 10. RCW 43.330.726 and 2023 c 151 s 5 are each amended to
22 read as follows:
23     (1) Subject to the amounts appropriated for this specific
24 purpose, the office of homeless youth prevention and protection
25 programs   shall  provide   additional  funding   and  assistance  to
26 contracted youth service providers or other entities who convene a
27 community support team as described in this section. The purpose of
28 the community support team is to help identify supports for a youth
29 focused on resolving family conflict and obtaining or maintaining
30 long-term and stable housing. (((a))) The community support team is
31 required to prioritize reunification between the youth and the
32 youth's family to the extent possible without endangering the health,
33 safety, or welfare of the child.
34     (((b) The community support team may not engage with a family
35 member other than the youth if the parent, guardian, or legal
36 custodian objects to the support or assistance that is offered or
37 provided.))
38     (2) A community support team under this section must include:
39     (a) The youth; and
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1    (b) Supportive adults identified by the youth, which may include:
2    (i) Licensed shelter staff;
3    (ii) A case manager;
4    (iii) Individuals from the youth's school;
5    (iv) Juvenile court staff;
6    (v) The youth's attorney;
7    (vi) Behavioral health providers;
8    (vii) Community support providers;
9    (viii) Family members;
10    (ix) Mentors;
11    (x) Peer support;
12    (xi) Housing navigation;
13    (xii) Legal assistance; or
14    (xiii) Other community members.
15     (3) The community support team described in this section shall
16 develop a process that allows youth who enter a licensed overnight
17 youth shelter, or another ((licensed)) organization with a stated
18 mission to provide services to homeless or runaway youth and their
19 families to request assistance from the community support team.
20     (4) Any youth who ((enters)) seeks services from a licensed
21 overnight youth shelter, or another ((licensed)) organization with a
22 stated mission to provide services to homeless or runaway youth and
23 their families in an area served by the community support team is
24 eligible for the community support team.
25     (5) The community support team described in this section shall
26 coordinate efforts, if appropriate, with:
27     (a) The department or the designated contractor of the department
28 providing family reconciliation services to a youth or family;
29     (b) Multidisciplinary teams established under RCW 43.185C.250 and
30 43.185C.255; and
31     (c) Other nearby youth homelessness assistance programs that may
32 provide assistance to the youth.
33     Sec. 11. RCW 43.63A.305 and 2009 c 148 s 1 are each amended to
34 read as follows:
35     (1) The independent youth housing program is created in the
36 department to provide housing stipends to eligible youth to be used
37 for independent housing. In developing a plan for the design,
38 implementation, and operation of the independent youth housing
39 program, the department shall:
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1     (a) Adopt policies, requirements, and procedures necessary to
2 administer the program;
3     (b) Contract with one or more eligible organizations described
4 under RCW 43.185A.040 to provide services and conduct administrative
5 activities as described in subsection (3) of this section;
6     (c) Establish eligibility criteria for youth to participate in
7 the independent youth housing program, giving priority to youth who
8 have been dependents of the state for at least one year;
9     (d) Refer interested youth to the designated subcontractor
10 organization administering the program in the area in which the youth
11 intends to reside;
12     (e) Develop a method for determining the amount of the housing
13 stipend, first and last month's rent, and security deposit, where
14 applicable, to be dedicated to participating youth. The method for
15 determining a housing stipend must take into account a youth's age,
16 the youth's total income from all sources, the fair market rent for
17 the area in which the youth lives or intends to live, and a variety
18 of possible living situations for the youth. The amount of housing
19 stipends must be adjusted, by a method and formula established by the
20 department, to promote the successful transition for youth to
21 complete housing self-sufficiency over time;
22     (f) Ensure that the independent youth housing program is
23 integrated and aligned with other state rental assistance and case
24 management programs operated by the department, as well as case
25 management   and   supportive   services   programs,  including   the
26 independent living program, the transitional living program, and
27 other related programs offered by the department of social and health
28 services; and
29     (g) Consult with the department of ((social and health services))
30 children, youth, and families and other stakeholders involved with
31 dependent youth, homeless youth, and homeless young adults, as
32 appropriate.
33     (2) The department of ((social and health services)) children,
34 youth, and families shall collaborate with the department in
35 implementing and operating the independent youth housing program
36 including, but not limited to, the following:
37     (a) Refer potential eligible youth to the department before the
38 youth's ((eighteenth)) 18th birthday, if feasible, to include an
39 indication, if known, of where the youth plans to reside after aging
40 out of foster care;
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1     (b) Provide information to all youth aged ((fifteen)) 15 or
2 older, who are dependents of the state under chapter 13.34 RCW, about
3 the independent youth housing program, encouraging dependents nearing
4 their   ((eighteenth))  18th   birthday  to  consider   applying  for
5 enrollment in the program;
6     (c) Encourage organizations participating in the independent
7 living program and the transitional living program to collaborate
8 with independent youth housing program providers whenever possible to
9 capitalize on resources and provide the greatest amount and variety
10 of services to eligible youth;
11     (d) Annually provide to the department data reflecting changes in
12 the percentage of youth aging out of the state dependency system each
13 year who are eligible for state assistance, as well as any other data
14 and performance measures that may assist the department to measure
15 program success; and
16     (e) Annually, beginning by December 31, 2007, provide to the
17 appropriate committees of the legislature and the interagency council
18 on homelessness as described under RCW 43.185C.170 recommendations of
19 strategies to reach the goals described in RCW 43.63A.311(2)(g).
20     (3) Under the independent youth housing program, subcontractor
21 organizations shall:
22     (a) Use moneys awarded to the organizations for housing stipends,
23 security deposits, first and last month's rent stipends, case
24 management    program  costs,   costs    associated   with   providing
25 transitional housing, and administrative costs. When subcontractor
26 organizations determine that it is necessary to assist participating
27 youth in accessing and maintaining independent housing, subcontractor
28 organizations may also use moneys awarded to pay for professional
29 mental health services and tuition costs for court-ordered classes
30 and programs;
31     (((i) Administrative costs for each subcontractor organization
32 may not exceed twelve percent of the estimated total annual grant
33 amount to the subcontractor organization;
34     (ii) All housing stipends, security deposits, and first and last
35 month's rent stipends must be payable only to a landlord or housing
36 manager of any type of independent housing;))
37     (b) Enroll eligible youth who are referred by the department and
38 who choose to reside in their assigned service area;
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1     (c)    Enter   eligible   youth    program   participants   into   the
2 (([Washington])) Washington homeless client management information
3 system as described in RCW 43.185C.180;
4      (d) Monitor participating youth's housing status;
5      (e) Evaluate participating youth's eligibility and compliance
6 with department policies and procedures at least twice a year;
7      (f) Assist participating youth to develop or update an
8 independent    living    plan  focused    on   obtaining   and   retaining
9 independent housing or collaborate with a case manager with whom the
10 youth is already involved to ensure that the youth has an independent
11 living plan;
12     (g)    Educate    participating    youth   on   tenant    rights   and
13 responsibilities;
14     (h) Provide support to participating youth in the form of general
15 case    management   and   information   and   referral   services,   when
16 necessary, or collaborate with a case manager with whom the youth is
17 already involved to ensure that the youth is receiving the case
18 management and information and referral services needed;
19     (i) Connect participating youth, when possible, with individual
20 development account programs, other financial literacy programs, and
21 other programs that are designed to help young people acquire
22 economic independence and self-sufficiency, or collaborate with a
23 case manager with whom the youth is already involved to ensure that
24 the youth is receiving information and referrals to these programs,
25 when appropriate;
26     (j) Submit expenditure and performance reports, including
27 information related to the performance measures in RCW 43.63A.311, to
28 the department on a time schedule determined by the department; and
29     (k) Provide recommendations to the department regarding program
30 improvements and strategies that might assist the state to reach its
31 goals as described in RCW 43.63A.311(2)(g).
32     Sec. 12. RCW 74.15.020 and 2023 c 441 s 4 and 2023 c 408 s 3 are
33 each reenacted and amended to read as follows:
34     The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter and
35 RCW 74.13.031 unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
36     (1) "Agency" means any person, firm, partnership, association,
37 corporation, facility, or residential private school, which receives
38 children,   expectant   mothers,   or   persons   with   developmental
39 disabilities for control, care, or maintenance outside their own
  p. 19  SSB 6184
1 homes, or which places, arranges the placement of, or assists in the
2 placement   of   children,   expectant  mothers,   or   persons  with
3 developmental disabilities for foster care or placement of children
4 for adoption, and shall include the following irrespective of whether
5 there is compensation to the agency or to the children, expectant
6 mothers, or persons with developmental disabilities for services
7 rendered:
8     (a) "Child-placing agency" means an agency, which places a child
9 or children for temporary care, continued care, or for adoption;
10     (b) "Community facility" means a group care facility operated for
11 the care of juveniles committed to the department under RCW
12 13.40.185. A county detention facility that houses juveniles
13 committed to the department under RCW 13.40.185 pursuant to a
14 contract with the department is not a community facility;
15     (c) "Crisis residential center" means an agency, which is a
16 temporary protective residential facility operated to perform the
17 duties specified in chapter 13.32A RCW, in the manner provided in RCW
18 43.185C.295 through 43.185C.310;
19     (d) "Emergency respite center" is an agency that may be commonly
20 known as a crisis nursery, that provides emergency and crisis care
21 for up to ((seventy-two)) 72 hours to children who have been admitted
22 by their parents or guardians to prevent abuse or neglect. Emergency
23 respite centers may operate for up to ((twenty-four)) 24 hours a day,
24 and for up to seven days a week. Emergency respite centers may
25 provide care for children ages birth through ((seventeen)) 17, and
26 for persons ((eighteen)) 18 through ((twenty)) 20 with developmental
27 disabilities who are admitted with a sibling or siblings through age
28 ((seventeen)) 17. Emergency respite centers may not substitute for
29 crisis residential centers or HOPE centers, or any other services
30 defined under this section, and may not substitute for services,
31 which are required under chapter 13.32A or 13.34 RCW;
32     (e) "Foster family home" means an agency, which regularly
33 provides care on a ((twenty-four)) 24 hour basis to one or more
34 children,   expectant   mothers,   or   persons   with  developmental
35 disabilities in the family abode of the person or persons under whose
36 direct care and supervision the child, expectant mother, or person
37 with a developmental disability is placed;
38     (f) "Group-care facility" means an agency, other than a foster
39 family home, which is maintained and operated for the care of a group
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1 of children on a ((twenty-four)) 24 hour basis. "Group care facility"
2 includes but is not limited to:
3     (i) Qualified residential treatment programs as defined in RCW
4 13.34.030;
5     (ii) Facilities specializing in providing prenatal, postpartum,
6 or parenting supports for youth; and
7     (iii) Facilities providing high quality residential care and
8 supportive services to children who are, or who are at risk of
9 becoming, victims of sex trafficking;
10     (g) "HOPE center" ((means an agency licensed by the secretary to
11 provide temporary residential placement and other services to street
12 youth. A street youth may remain in a HOPE center for thirty days
13 while services are arranged and permanent placement is coordinated.
14 No street youth may stay longer than thirty days unless approved by
15 the department and any additional days approved by the department
16 must be based on the unavailability of a long-term placement option.
17 A street youth whose parent wants him or her returned to home may
18 remain in a HOPE center until his or her parent arranges return of
19 the youth, not longer. All other street youth must have court
20 approval under chapter 13.34 or 13.32A RCW to remain in a HOPE center
21 up to thirty days)) has the same meaning as in RCW 43.185C.010;
22     (h) "Maternity service" means an agency, which provides or
23 arranges for care or services to expectant mothers, before or during
24 confinement, or which provides care as needed to mothers and their
25 infants after confinement;
26     (i) "Residential private school" means a nonpublic school or
27 nonpublic school district subject to approval by the state board of
28 education pursuant to RCW 28A.305.130 and chapter 28A.195 RCW that
29 provides sleeping and living facilities or residential accommodations
30 for enrolled students;
31     (j) "Resource and assessment center" means an agency that
32 provides short-term emergency and crisis care for a period up to
33 ((seventy-two)) 72 hours, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays
34 to children who have been removed from their parent's or guardian's
35 care by child protective services or law enforcement;
36     (k) "Responsible living skills program" means an agency licensed
37 by the secretary that provides residential and transitional living
38 services to persons ages ((sixteen)) 16 to ((eighteen)) 18 who are
39 dependent under chapter 13.34 RCW and who have been unable to live in
40 his or her legally authorized residence and, as a result, the minor
  p. 21  SSB 6184
1 lived outdoors or in another unsafe location not intended for
2 occupancy by the minor. Dependent minors ages ((fourteen)) 14 and
3 ((fifteen)) 15 may be eligible if no other placement alternative is
4 available and the department approves the placement;
5     (l) "Service provider" means the entity that operates a community
6 facility.
7     (2) "Agency" shall not include the following:
8     (a) Persons related to the child, expectant mother, or person
9 with developmental disability in the following ways:
10     (i) Any blood relative, including those of half-blood, and
11 including first cousins, second cousins, nephews or nieces, and
12 persons of preceding generations as denoted by prefixes of grand,
13 great, or great-great;
14     (ii) Stepfather, stepmother, stepbrother, and stepsister;
15     (iii) A person who legally adopts a child or the child's parent
16 as well as the natural and other legally adopted children of such
17 persons, and other relatives of the adoptive parents in accordance
18 with state law;
19     (iv) Spouses of any persons named in (a)(i), (ii), or (iii) of
20 this subsection (2), even after the marriage is terminated;
21     (v) Relatives, as named in (a)(i), (ii), (iii), or (iv) of this
22 subsection (2), of any half sibling of the child; or
23     (vi) Extended family members, as defined by the law or custom of
24 the Indian child's tribe or, in the absence of such law or custom, a
25 person who has reached the age of ((eighteen)) 18 and who is the
26 Indian child's grandparent, aunt or uncle, brother or sister,
27 brother-in-law or sister-in-law, niece or nephew, first or second
28 cousin, or stepparent who provides care in the family abode on a
29 ((twenty-four-hour)) 24 hour basis to an Indian child as defined in
30 25 U.S.C. Sec. 1903(4);
31     (b) Persons who are legal guardians of the child, expectant
32 mother, or persons with developmental disabilities;
33     (c) Persons who care for a neighbor's or friend's child or
34 children, with or without compensation, where the parent and person
35 providing care on a ((twenty-four-hour)) 24 hour basis have agreed to
36 the placement in writing and the state is not providing any payment
37 for the care;
38     (d) A person, partnership, corporation, or other entity that
39 provides placement or similar services to exchange students or
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1 international student exchange visitors or persons who have the care
2 of an exchange student in their home;
3     (e) A person, partnership, corporation, or other entity that
4 provides placement or similar services to international children who
5 have entered the country by obtaining visas that meet the criteria
6 for medical care as established by the United States citizenship and
7 immigration services, or persons who have the care of such an
8 international child in their home;
9     (f) Nonresidential schools, which are engaged primarily in
10 education, operate on a definite school year schedule, follow a
11 stated academic curriculum, accept only school-age children and do
12 not accept custody of children;
13     (g) Hospitals licensed pursuant to chapter 70.41 RCW when
14 performing functions defined in chapter 70.41 RCW, nursing homes
15 licensed under chapter 18.51 RCW and assisted living facilities
16 licensed under chapter 18.20 RCW;
17     (h) Licensed physicians or lawyers;
18     (i) Facilities approved and certified under chapter 71A.22 RCW;
19     (j) Any agency having been in operation in this state ((ten)) 10
20 years prior to June 8, 1967, and not seeking or accepting moneys or
21 assistance from any state or federal agency, and is supported in part
22 by an endowment or trust fund;
23     (k) Persons who have a child in their home for purposes of
24 adoption, if the child was placed in such home by a licensed child-
25 placing agency, an authorized public or tribal agency or court or if
26 a replacement report has been filed under chapter 26.33 RCW and the
27 placement has been approved by the court;
28     (l) An agency operated by any unit of local, state, or federal
29 government or an agency licensed by an Indian tribe pursuant to RCW
30 74.15.190;
31     (m) A maximum or medium security program for juvenile offenders
32 operated by or under contract with the department;
33     (n) An agency located on a federal military reservation, except
34 where the military authorities request that such agency be subject to
35 the licensing requirements of this chapter;
36     (o)(i) A host home program, and host home, operated by a tax
37 exempt organization for youth not in the care of or receiving
38 services from the department except as provided in (o)(iii) of this
39 subsection   (((2)(o)(iii)  of    this  section  [(o)(iii)   of   this
40 subsection])), if that program: (A) Recruits and screens potential
  p. 23  SSB 6184
1 homes in the program, including performing background checks on
2 individuals over the age of ((eighteen)) 18 residing in the home
3 through the Washington state patrol or equivalent law enforcement
4 agency and performing physical inspections of the home; (B) screens
5 and provides case management services to youth in the program; (C)
6 obtains a notarized permission slip or limited power of attorney from
7 the parent or legal guardian of the youth authorizing the youth to
8 participate in the program and the authorization is updated every six
9 months when a youth remains in a host home longer than six months,
10 unless there is a compelling reason to not contact the parent or
11 guardian; (D) obtains insurance for the program through an insurance
12 provider authorized under Title 48 RCW; (E) provides mandatory
13 reporter and confidentiality training; and (F) registers with the
14 secretary of state under RCW 74.15.315.
15     (ii) If a host home program serves a child without parental
16 authorization who is seeking or receiving protected health care
17 services, the host home program must:
18     (A) Report to the department within 72 hours of the youth's
19 participation in the program and following this report the department
20 shall make a good faith attempt to notify the parent of this report
21 and offer services designed to resolve the conflict and accomplish a
22 reunification of the family;
23     (B) Report to the department the youth's participation in the
24 host home program at least once every month when the youth remains in
25 the host home longer than one month; and
26     (C) Provide case management outside of the host home and away
27 from any individuals residing in the home at least once per month.
28     (iii) A host home program and host home that meets the other
29 requirements of this subsection (2)(o) ((of this section [this
30 subsection (2)(o)])) may provide care for a youth who is receiving
31 services from the department if the youth is:
32     (A) Not subject to a dependency proceeding under chapter 13.34
33 RCW; and
34     (B) Seeking or receiving protected health care services.
35     (iv) For purposes of this section, the following definitions
36 apply:
37     (A) "Host home" means a private home that volunteers to host
38 youth in need of temporary placement that is associated with a host
39 home program.
  p. 24  SSB 6184
1     (B) "Host home program" is a program that provides support to
2 individual host homes and meets the requirements of (o)(i) of this
3 subsection.
4     (C) "Compelling reason" means the youth is in the host home or
5 seeking placement in a host home while seeking or receiving protected
6 health care services.
7     (D) "Protected health care services" means gender-affirming
8 treatment as defined in RCW 74.09.675 and reproductive health care
9 services as defined in RCW 74.09.875.
10     (v) Any host home program that receives local, state, or
11 government funding shall report the following information to the
12 office of homeless youth prevention and protection programs annually
13 by December 1st of each year: The number of children the program
14 served, why the child was placed with a host home, and where the
15 child went after leaving the host home((,)) including, but not
16 limited to, returning to the parents, running away, reaching the age
17 of majority, or becoming a dependent of the state;
18     (p) Receiving centers as defined in RCW 7.68.380.
19     (3) "Department" means the department of children, youth, and
20 families.
21     (4) "Juvenile" means a person under the age of ((twenty-one)) 21
22 who has been sentenced to a term of confinement under the supervision
23 of the department under RCW 13.40.185.
24     (5) "Performance-based contracts" or "contracting" means the
25 structuring of all aspects of the procurement of services around the
26 purpose of the work to be performed and the desired results with the
27 contract requirements set forth in clear, specific, and objective
28 terms with measurable outcomes. Contracts may also include provisions
29 that link the performance of the contractor to the level and timing
30 of the reimbursement.
31     (6) "Probationary license" means a license issued as a
32 disciplinary measure to an agency that has previously been issued a
33 full license but is out of compliance with licensing standards.
34     (7) "Requirement" means any rule, regulation, or standard of care
35 to be maintained by an agency.
36     (8) "Secretary" means the secretary of the department.
37     (9) (("Street youth" means a person under the age of eighteen who
38 lives outdoors or in another unsafe location not intended for
39 occupancy by the minor and who is not residing with his or her parent
40 or at his or her legally authorized residence.
  p. 25  SSB 6184
1     (10))) "Transitional living services" means at a minimum, to the
2 extent funds are available, the following:
3     (a)   Educational   services,   including  basic   literacy   and
4 computational skills training, either in local alternative or public
5 high schools or in a high school equivalency program that leads to
6 obtaining a high school equivalency degree;
7     (b) Assistance and counseling related to obtaining vocational
8 training or higher education, job readiness, job search assistance,
9 and placement programs;
10     (c) Counseling and instruction in life skills such as money
11 management, home management, consumer skills, parenting, health care,
12 access to community resources, and transportation and housing
13 options;
14     (d) Individual and group counseling; and
15     (e) Establishing networks with federal agencies and state and
16 local organizations such as the United States department of labor,
17 employment and training administration programs including the
18 workforce innovation and opportunity act, which administers private
19 industry councils and the job corps; vocational rehabilitation; and
20 volunteer programs.
21     NEW SECTION.   Sec. 13.   Section 12 of this act takes effect July
22 1, 2026.
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