WA People
BILL · 2025–26 SESSION · LATEST VERSION 2SHB 1544

HB 1544: Child abuse risk assessment

Improving the risk assessment process used when investigating alleged child abuse and neglect referrals.

Summary

  • Requires the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) to conduct a study to improve its risks, strengths, and needs assessment tool used in the risk assessment process when investigating alleged child abuse and neglect referrals.
  • Requires that the DCYF risk assessment process used when investigating child abuse and neglect referrals be certified at least once every three years based on current academic standards for assessment validation.

From the House Bill Report (HB 1544), written by the Legislature's nonpartisan staff. Read the full report ↗

Did not pass Did not pass · stalled on the House floor
  1. IntroducedJan 23, 2025
  2. Out of committeeFeb 11, 2025
  3. Passed Housestopped here
  4. Passed Senate
  5. Governor
  6. Law
Prime sponsor
Alicia Rule (D-42)
Introduced
January 23, 2025 in the House
Last action
February 19, 2026
Budget
Has a fiscal note
Versions
HB 1544, SHB 1544, 2SHB 1544

AN ACT Relating to the risk assessment process used by the department of children, youth, and families when investigating alleged child abuse and neglect referrals;

Sponsors

Prime sponsor: Alicia Rule (D-42)

4 co-sponsors (4 Democrats, 0 Republicans)

Natasha Hill D-3Lauren Davis D-32Julia Reed D-36Timm Ormsby D-3

Votes

No recorded floor votes.

History

  1. Returned to Rules Committee for second reading. (2SHB 1544)
  2. House Rules "X" file. (2SHB 1544)
  3. House Rules "X" file. (SHB 1544)
  4. Returned to Rules Committee for second reading. (SHB 1544)
  5. Returned to Rules Committee for second reading.
  6. House Rules "X" file.
  7. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading. (2SHB 1544)
  8. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading. (SHB 1544)
  9. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.
  10. Referred to Rules 2 Review. (2SHB 1544)
  11. Referred to Rules 2 Review. (SHB 1544)
  12. Referred to Rules 2 Review.
  13. ELHS - Majority; 2nd substitute bill be substituted, do pass. (2SHB 1544)
  14. Minority; without recommendation. (2SHB 1544)
  15. Minority; without recommendation. (SHB 1544)
  16. ELHS - Majority; 2nd substitute bill be substituted, do pass. (SHB 1544)
  17. ELHS - Executive action taken by committee. (SHB 1544)
  18. ELHS - Executive action taken by committee.
  19. ELHS - Majority; 2nd substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
  20. Minority; without recommendation.
  21. By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status. (SHB 1544)
  22. Referred to Early Learning & Human Services. (SHB 1544)
  23. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. (SHB 1544)
  24. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration.
  25. Referred to Early Learning & Human Services.
  26. By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.
  27. Referred to Rules 2 Review. (SHB 1544)
  28. Referred to Rules 2 Review.
  29. ELHS - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. (SHB 1544)
  30. ELHS - Executive action taken by committee.
  31. ELHS - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
  32. First reading, referred to Early Learning & Human Services.

HB 1544 in other sessions

Bill numbers restart every two years, so the same number is a different bill in each session.

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