Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official page posted by the Washington Legislature, fetched 2026-08-29. This is the chaptered version. The official bill page.
CERTIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5911 Chapter 92, Laws of 2026 69TH LEGISLATURE 2026 REGULAR SESSION FOSTER CARE—FUNDS OF PERSON UNDER CARE EFFECTIVE DATE: June 11, 2026 Passed by the Senate March 9, 2026 Yeas 49 Nays 0 DENNY HECK President of the Senate Passed by the House March 5, 2026 Yeas 93 Nays 2 LAURIE JINKINS Speaker of the House of Representatives CERTIFICATE I, Sarah Bannister, Secretary of the Senate of the State of Washington, do hereby certify that the attached is SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5911 as passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives on the dates hereon set forth. SARAH BANNISTER Secretary Secretary Approved March 18, 2026 10:04 AM FILED March 19, 2026 BOB FERGUSON Governor of the State of Washington Secretary of State State of Washington SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5911 AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE Passed Legislature - 2026 Regular Session State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session By Senate Human Services (originally sponsored by Senators Alvarado, Warnick, Boehnke, Frame, Nobles, Orwall, Riccelli, Trudeau, and C. Wilson) READ FIRST TIME 01/21/26. AN ACT Relating to strengthening the financial stability of persons in the care of the department of children, youth, and families; amending RCW 74.13.060; and adding a new section to chapter 74.13 RCW. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON: NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 74.13 RCW to read as follows: (1) Beginning January 1, 2027, the department may not apply any benefits, payments, funds, or accrual paid to, or on behalf of, a person in extended foster care as reimbursement for the cost of care. (2) When a person in extended foster care is not already receiving social security benefits, including supplemental security income and retirement, survivors, and disability insurance benefits, the department shall assess whether the person is eligible for such benefits. When a person is assessed to be eligible for social security benefits, the department shall: (a) Assist the person to become the payee for their social security benefits and maintain eligibility for those benefits while the department is the representative payee; and (b) Assist persons who are designated as payees for their benefits establish a financial account appropriate for receiving those benefits such as a Washington achieving a better life experience account, a checking or savings account, or another form of electronic banking. The department may provide support to determine if the person can manage the account on their own or if they need an authorized representative to manage their account. (3) If a person in extended foster care is determined to need additional support in managing their benefits, the department shall make reasonable efforts to identify a suitable individual to serve as the person's authorized representative. If neither the person nor the department is able to identify a suitable authorized representative, the department may serve in that role until the person or the department can identify a suitable individual to serve in place of the department. The department may contract with an external entity to administer and manage the accounts governed by this section on the department's behalf. (4) If the department is the representative payee for social security benefits for a person in foster care or extended foster care, the department maintains a fiduciary duty to manage the funds consistent with federal social security administration rules and regulations. (5) For purposes of this section, "person in extended foster care" means a person who is age 18 to 21 who is in the care of the department under chapter 13.34 RCW. Sec. 2. RCW 74.13.060 and 2009 c 520 s 59 are each amended to read as follows: (1) The secretary or his or her designees or delegatees shall be the custodian without compensation of such moneys and other funds of any person which may come into the possession of the secretary during the period such person is placed with the department or an entity with which it has entered into a performance-based contract pursuant to chapter 74.13 RCW. As such custodian, the secretary shall have authority to disburse moneys from the person's funds for the following purposes only and subject to the following limitations: (a) For such personal needs of such person as the secretary may deem proper and necessary((. )); and (b) ((Against ))Except as provided in section 1 of this act, against the amount of public assistance otherwise payable to such person((. This )), which includes applying, as reimbursement, any benefits, payments, funds, or accrual paid to or on behalf of said person from any source against the amount of public assistance expended on behalf of said person during the period for which the benefits, payments, funds or accruals were paid. (2) All funds held by the secretary as custodian may be deposited in a single fund, the receipts and expenditures therefrom to be accurately accounted for by him or her on an individual basis. Whenever, the funds belonging to any one person exceed the sum of ((five hundred dollars ))$2,000 , the secretary may deposit said funds in a ((savings and loan association account ))qualifying protected account for which the person is eligible, such as a Washington achieving a better life experience program account or a similar account, on behalf of that particular person. (3) When the conditions of placement no longer exist and public assistance is no longer being provided for such person, upon a showing of legal competency and proper authority, the secretary shall deliver to such person, or the parent, person, or agency legally responsible for such person, all funds belonging to the person remaining in his or her possession as custodian, together with a full and final accounting of all receipts and expenditures made therefrom. (4) The appointment of a guardian for the estate of such person shall terminate the secretary's authority as custodian of said funds upon receipt by the secretary of a certified copy of letters of guardianship. Upon the guardian's request, the secretary shall immediately forward to such guardian any funds of such person remaining in the secretary's possession together with full and final accounting of all receipts and expenditures made therefrom. Passed by the Senate March 9, 2026. Passed by the House March 5, 2026. Approved by the Governor March 18, 2026. Filed in Office of Secretary of State March 19, 2026.
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