Legislation focused on protecting youth seeking protected health services such as gender-affirming treatment and reproductive health care cleared the Washington state House on April 12. Senate Bill 5599 passed the House with a 57-39 vote, with two excused. If the bill receives final approval from Gov. Jay Inslee, licensed shelters for runaway or homeless youth would not need to contact a youth's parents if there is a "compelling reason not to." That includes a youth seeking protected health services. "If a young person is totally estranged with their parents, has no meaningful relationship. We need someone to care for that child and the way that legislation is set up is essentially the Department of Children Youth and Families will step into that position to care for that child so that you have somebody looking out for their benefit,” Inslee said. Additionally, the legislation would allow host homes to house youth without parental permission if a person is seeking or receiving protected health services. READ THE FULL STORY HERE: https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/olympia/legislation-safeguarding-youth-protected-health-services-clears-house/281-baba427b-7a5c-4a3b-88e6-4324e66cd7f9