Malnutrition bill passes WA House
STAFF REPORT | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 3 years, 8 months AGO
House Bill 1274, a bill to help prevent child malnutrition, passed the Washington House unanimously Saturday. The bill is sponsored by Representative Travis Couture (R-Allyn).
OLYMPIA – House Bill 1274, a bill to help prevent child malnutrition, passed the Washington House unanimously Saturday.
“While a child malnutrition field guide seems like a small step, it's a step we can take right now to ensure that when these state agent visits happen, they can take immediate action. No longer can anyone have the excuse that they didn't know what child malnutrition looks like,” said Representative Travis Couture (R-Allyn), in a release by his office.
The release states that the bill is designed to assist Child Protective Service agents in being able to identify the signs of child malnutrition and prevent future tragedies. If passed, the bill would direct the Department of Children, Youth and Families, in consultation with the Department of Health, to create a child malnutrition field guide for their staff.
The field guide must be concise but provide references to additional comprehensive and trauma-informed resources for department staff to access if needed, be easily accessible by department staff, describe how to identify signs of child malnutrition, include appropriate questions to ask the child and others close to the child when child malnutrition is suspected, including the appropriate next steps department staff may take when child malnutrition is suspected and include any additional information the department deems relevant.
The release states that the bill was inspired by the death of a 15-year-old boy named Karreon Franks. He died of starvation in November 2020, six days after he and his malnourished siblings were visited by a CPS agent. At the time of his death, he weighed only 70 pounds.
"What happened to Karreon Franks must never be allowed to happen to any child in our state ever again," said Couture, R-Allyn.
This is the first bill of Couture’s to pass out of the House and now heads to the Senate for consideration.
ARTICLES BY STAFF REPORT
Connell woman killed in Booker Road crash
CONNELL — Charges are pending against a Kennewick man following a collision about 12 miles south of Othello that killed a Connell woman and injured three other people Tuesday evening. A Washington State Patrol press memo said intoxicating substances were a factor. Jessica Zarate, 37, Connell, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash near the intersection of SR 17 and South Booker Road, the WSP memo said. She was driving south on Booker Road approaching the intersection when her car was hit by a pickup driven by John Reiss, 62, Kennewick. Edgar Garcia Quirino, 28, Othello, was driving north on SR 17 and ran into Zarate's car, the WSP memo said. The crash occurred at about 6:40 p.m.
Wheeler Road closed because of traffic collision
UPDATE: The road was reopened as of noon, according to a GCSO media release. MOSES LAKE — Grant County Sheriff’s Office has announced there is a road closure between Road 3-NE and Road S-NE. There was a serious traffic collision. GCSO is asking for drivers to avoid the area and find alternative routes. This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
Doors opening: The Currents will provide homeownership for more local workers
About 104 homes are planned at the former Atlas sawmill site
Teachers, nurses, firefighters and other workers who keep Coeur d’Alene running will soon have more places to buy a home in the community where they work. About 104 homes are being planned to be built at Atlas Waterfront, on roughly 10 acres that are part of a swath of land that was once home to the Atlas sawmill and is being redeveloped. Ignite CDA, the city of Coeur d’Alene’s urban renewal agency, is leading this effort.