Bill
SB 5426
Strengthens and standardizes juvenile diversion across Washington, expanding community-based options and oversight, potentially cutting formal court cases, pending funding.
Status and context
- Bill number: SB 5426. Reintroduced and retained in present status (by resolution). First reading 01/22/2025 (current session). The bill originated in 2023 as legislation to implement a “family connections” program and was subsequently replaced in the 2025 session by a substitute that focuses on strengthening diversion and developmentally appropriate alternatives for youth outside the formal juvenile court process.
- Recent procedural milestones (2025): Referred to Human Services (01/22/25); public hearing in Human Services (01/29/25); executive action in Human Services adopting the 1st substitute and referring to Ways & Means (02/05/25); public hearing in Ways & Means (02/13/25).
Purpose / intent
- 2023 version: Establish a DCYF-contracted “family connections program” to facilitate safe interaction between parents of dependent children and their child’s caregivers (foster/kin), including in‑person meetings or supported exchanges and evaluation/reporting requirements.
- 2025 substitute: Strengthen and standardize use of juvenile diversion across Washington — increase courts’ ability to offer diversion, expand contracting with community providers, and improve data and accountability for diversion programs. Legislature cites evidence that diversion yields better outcomes and societal cost savings.
Key provisions (by version)
2023 family connections (original)
- Requires DCYF, within available funding, to contract with external organizations experienced with out‑of‑home care to operate the family connections program in at least one site west and one east of the Cascade crest.
- Referral sources: DCYF caseworker, attorneys, guardian ad litem, parent allies, public defender social workers, or the court.
- Program must assess safety/appropriateness for in‑person meetings; if appropriate, convene a family connections team (must include a parent ally and an experienced caregiver) to prepare parties, hold the meeting, and provide follow-up support.
- If in‑person meeting is not appropriate, facilitate information exchange via written messages, phone, or videoconferencing and regularly re‑evaluate.
- DCYF must collect data and report outcomes and statewide expansion plan to the Legislature (dates in the 2021 statute; original bill included an emergency effective date).
2025 substitute (diversion focus)
- Amends multiple juvenile statutes (RCW 13.40.020, 13.40.080; juvenile court statutes RCW 13.06.010, .030, .040; and RCW 2.56.032) and adds new sections to 13.40 and 13.06.
- Sets or clarifies definitions and program elements: “assessment,” “community-based rehabilitation,” “community-based sanctions” (community restitution capped at 150 hours), and “community supervision” (duration limits: up to 2 years for sex offenses; up to 1 year for other offenses).
- Creates/clarifies “community transition services” (supervised, community-based custody with technology-enabled monitoring and culturally responsive programming).
- Strengthens procedural safeguards for residential/inpatient orders (required findings and periodic judicial review: initial review within 60 days, then every 30 days).
- Legislative findings emphasize evidence base and intent to reduce geographic disparities in diversion availability.
Who is affected
- Youth involved in the juvenile justice system (diversion candidates and adjudicated youth), their families, caregivers, and communities.
- Courts, juvenile probation and detention systems, DCYF, county juvenile services, community providers and contractors, public defenders, guardians ad litem, and foster/kin caregivers.
- Fiscal entities: bill actions go to Ways & Means, indicating potential budget/funding implications (many provisions conditioned on available funds).
Potential impacts
- If enacted, the substitute would likely expand diversion options, standardize practices across counties, increase use of community‑based, developmentally appropriate interventions, and require improved data/oversight. It may shift some cases away from formal court processing and commitment.
- Budgetary effects depend on appropriations and contracting authority; expansion of diversion, community transition services, and program monitoring would require funding and involve county/DCYF implementation.
Next steps / procedural outlook
- After Human Services amendment/substitute, SB 5426 is in the Senate Ways & Means Committee (public hearing held 02/13/2025). Further committee actions, fiscal analyses, and floor votes are needed for passage.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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