RCW 74.14B.080 Liability insurance for foster parents.
(1) Subject to subsection (2) of this section, the secretary shall provide liability insurance to foster parents licensed under chapter 74.15 RCW. The coverage shall be for personal injury and property damage caused by foster parents or foster children that occurred while the children were in foster care. Such insurance shall cover acts of ordinary negligence but shall not cover illegal conduct or bad faith acts taken by foster parents in providing foster care. Moneys paid from liability insurance for any claim are limited to the amount by which the claim exceeds the amount available to the claimant from any valid and collectible liability insurance.
(2) The secretary may purchase the insurance required in subsection (1) of this section or may choose a self-insurance method. The total moneys expended pursuant to this authorization shall not exceed five hundred thousand dollars per biennium. If the secretary elects a method of self-insurance, the expenditure shall include all administrative and staff costs. If the secretary elects a method of self-insurance, he or she may, by rule, place a limit on the maximum amount to be paid on each claim.
(3) Nothing in this section or RCW 4.24.590 is intended to modify the foster parent reimbursement plan in place on July 1, 1991.
(4) The liability insurance program shall be available by July 1, 1991.
[ 2017 3rd sp.s. c 6 § 509; 1991 c 283 § 2.]
NOTES:
Effective date—2017 3rd sp.s. c 6 §§ 102, 104-115, 201-227, 301-337, 401-419, 501-513, 801-803, and 805-822: See note following RCW 43.216.025.
Conflict with federal requirements—2017 3rd sp.s. c 6: See RCW 43.216.908.
Findings—1991 c 283: "The legislature recognizes the unique legal risks that foster parents face in taking children into their care. Third parties have filed claims against foster parents for losses and damage caused by foster children. Additionally, foster children and their parents have sued foster parents for actions occurring while the children were in foster care. The legislature finds that some potential foster parents are unwilling to subject themselves to potential liability without insurance protection. The legislature further finds that to encourage those people to serve as foster parents, it is necessary to assure that such insurance is available to them." [ 1991 c 283 § 1.]
Effective date—1991 c 283: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect July 1, 1991." [ 1991 c 283 § 5.]
Copyright ©2024 LegalFix. All rights reserved. LegalFix is not a law firm, is not licensed to practice law, and does not provide legal advice, services, or representation. The information on this website is an overview of the legal plans you can purchase—or that may be provided by your employer as an employee benefit or by your credit union or other membership group as a membership benefit.
LegalFix provides its members with easy access to affordable legal services through a network of independent law firms. LegalFix, its corporate entity, and its officers, directors, employees, agents, and contractors do not provide legal advice, services, or representation—directly or indirectly.
The articles and information on the site are not legal advice and should not be relied upon—they are for information purposes only. You should become a LegalFix member to get legal services from one of our network law firms.
You should not disclose confidential or potentially incriminating information to LegalFix—you should only communicate such information to your network law firm.
The benefits and legal services described in the LegalFix legal plans are not always available in all states or with all plans. See the legal plan Benefit Overview and the more comprehensive legal plan contract during checkout for coverage details in your state.
Use of this website, the purchase of legal plans, and access to the LegalFix networks of law firms are subject to the LegalFix Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.