The state would make medical evaluations easier and less traumatic for children suspected of being victims of child abuse, under legislation approved today by the Senate Human Services, Reentry & Rehabilitation Committee.
“If we fear a child has been physically abused, it’s important to investigate and make sure we stop or prevent future abuse,” said Sen. Annette Cleveland (D-Vancouver). “We also need to ensure that such evaluations don’t add to the trauma or stress a child or their family may already have suffered.”
Senate Bill 5814 would restore funding to cover examination costs for any children suspected of having been physically assaulted. Though legislation to provide such funding passed in 2015, that law expired in 2019 and funding ran out in 2021.
“It’s critical that we restore this important funding and make sure there are no barriers between children and the protection they deserve,” said Cleveland, who chairs the Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee. “This will direct the Department of Labor & Industries to cover all examination costs for children and to provide annual reports on child abuse cases to the Legislature and the governor.”
The annual reports must include:
- the number of requests to pay for physical abuse exams for child victims of felony-level assault;
- how many such requests are approved and denied, including reasons for
denials; - how many of the exams were covered for another reason; and
- any other information the agency considers relevant.
“We see daily, firsthand, the life-altering impact this can have on a child. Abuse is a leading cause of death in children 1-to-4,” said Dr. Lisa Lyons, manager of a regional exam site in Vancouver for abused children. “These children often do not have the words to say what has happened to them. Early identification helps avoid child death and life-altering injury.”
