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Senate committee hears push to expand early childhood courts from age 3 to 6
Summary
Senate Human Services Committee held a public hearing on SB 5149, a bill to expand Washington—s Early Childhood Courts (ECCs) to serve families with children up to age 6; witnesses, court staff and advocates said the change would let programs reach more families and improve reunification outcomes.
Senate Human Services Committee members heard testimony Jan. 22 on Senate Bill 5149, a measure sponsored by Sen. Adrianne Cortez to expand early childhood courts so they may serve families with children under age 6 rather than the current cap of under age 3.
Advocates, court partners and people with lived experience told the committee the expansion would allow ECCs to reach more families, improve reunification rates and produce better data on program outcomes. Committee staff said the pilot ECC model was enacted in 2021 and currently operates in Clark, Kitsap, Pierce, Spokane and Thurston counties.
Allison Mendiola,…
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