Modernizing the child fatality statute.

 S-1025.1

SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5163

State of Washington

69th Legislature

2025 Regular Session

By Senate Human Services (originally sponsored by Senators Orwall, Shewmake, Dhingra, Conway, Cleveland, Wellman, Hasegawa, Riccelli, Saldaña, Nobles, Valdez, and C. Wilson)

READ FIRST TIME 01/30/25.

AN ACT Relating to modernizing the child fatality statute; and amending RCW 70.05.170 .

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

Sec. 1. RCW 70.05.170 and 2010 c 128 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

(1)(a) The legislature finds that the mortality rate in Washington state among infants and children less than (( eighteen )) 19 years of age is unacceptably high, and that such mortality may be preventable. The legislature further finds that, through the performance of child (( mortality )) fatality reviews, preventable causes of child mortality can be identified and addressed, thereby reducing the infant and child mortality in Washington state.