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Committee reviews modernization of child fatality review statute to align with national practices
Summary
Substitute Senate Bill 5,163 would update the state's child fatality review statute, expand the age covered to under 19 and permit retention of identifying data for trend analysis; staff and public‑health groups supported the changes and identified modest fiscal needs for data staffing.
Substitute Senate Bill 5,163, a proposal to modernize the state's child fatality review statute, was presented to the committee with staff and local public‑health testimony describing the change in scope and modest staffing and data costs.
Monica Fontaine, committee staff, said the bill changes the definition of a child fatality review to include children up to 19 years old and clarifies what information local health jurisdictions and the Department of Health may request and retain for analysis. "If the child fatality team identifies a current, reportable and unresolved concern about child abuse or neglect, a team member may make a report to the child abuse hotline," Fontaine said, noting confidentiality protections and that submitted information would be redacted for identifying detail when used for prevention strategies.
Jamie Baden from the State Association of Local Public Health Officials testified in support and said the substitute would realign Washington with national standards and aid statewide and national prevention efforts. Russell Brown, executive director of the Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, said the substitute removed language that had raised prosecutorial concerns in prior drafts and that the current substitute does not limit prosecutors' ability to present material in court.
Staff presented a fiscal note that anticipates staffing and maintenance costs: Fontaine said an impact of $341,000 in total funds in the 2025‑27 biennium and a four‑year general‑fund cost of $618,000, with DOH and DCYF identifying ongoing staffing needs to maintain and coordinate data. The hearing concluded with public‑health and prosecuting‑attorney advocates in support; no committee vote was recorded.
