Concerning the provision of medical assistance to individuals in juvenile detention facilities.



ENGROSSED SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5128

State of Washington

69th Legislature

2025 Regular Session

By Senate Human Services (originally sponsored by Senators C. Wilson, Hasegawa, Nobles, Saldaña, Valdez, and Wellman)

READ FIRST TIME 01/30/25.

AN ACT Relating to medical services for individuals in juvenile detention facilities; amending RCW 74.09.555 and 71.24.715 ; reenacting and amending RCW 74.09.670 ; creating new sections; and providing expiration dates.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature recognizes that in 2021, Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5304 was signed into law to better ensure continuity of coverage for medicaid enrollment of incarcerated youth. The legislature finds that further clarification is required to ensure local and state juvenile facilities are made aware of opportunities for continuity of coverage. The legislature therefore resolves to remove ambiguity in state statute and to direct the health care authority to document its efforts working with local providers to ensure a warm handoff upon release from detention facilities.

Sec. 2. RCW 74.09.670 and 2021 c 243 s 2 and 2021 c 166 s 2 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows: