OLYMPIA — The Legislature has passed a measure that requires homeless or runaway shelters to notify parents, state officials or law enforcement of a youth’s location.
The bipartisan measure was passed by the House Friday on an 89-7 vote. The Senate unanimously passed the measure last month. It now heads to Gov. Jay Inslee for his signature.
The bill requires overnight shelters to issue the notifications of the youth within 72 hours of becoming aware they are missing, and preferably within 24 hours.
Current law already requires any person providing shelter to a known runaway to notify parents, policy or the Department of Social and Health Services within eight hours.
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