DCYF frontline staffing

AN ACT Relating to increasing frontline staffing within the 1
department of children, youth, and families; and creating new 2
sections. 3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that child 5
protective services is understaffed, which is consistent with the 6
findings of the child welfare workload study completed by the 7
department of children, youth, and families. The legislature also 8
finds that the department's program support is overstaffed in excess 9
of 100 full-time equivalents relative to the program's base 10
appropriation. Therefore, it is the intent of the legislature to 11
increase the number of social workers and related staff that provide 12
direct services to receive, refer, and respond to screened-in reports 13
of child abuse or neglect while also reducing the number of staff 14
that do not provide direct client services.15
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. (1) Within existing resources, the 16
department of children, youth, and families shall increase child 17
protective services staff that provide direct services, which may 18
include social workers and related staff that provide services to 19
receive, refer, and respond to screened-in reports of child abuse or 20
S-3496.3
SENATE BILL 5866
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By Senators Torres, Christian, Dozier, and Gildon
Prefiled 12/10/25. Read first time 01/12/26. Referred to Committee
on Human Services.
p. 1 SB 5866
neglect, by 100 full-time equivalents by the end of the 2025-2027 1
fiscal biennium. Staff may only include those provided for in RCW 2
43.88.058(2). 3
(2) For the purposes of this section, "within existing resources" 4
means by using reductions in staffing in the department of children, 5
youth, and families' program support appropriation of the 2025-2027 6
operating budget. 7
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p. 2 SB 5866