Rep. Kagi sponsors bill to prevent child deaths

Rep. Ruth Kagi-Shoreline
Photo courtesy WA St Leg
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Child Fatality Review, HB 2165 received public hearing Thursday in the House 

Last year, on May 2, five-month-old Baby Eve died of SIDS in a Seattle Childcare called First Nest. The story doesn’t end there. Twelve years earlier, another infant, Baby Graham, died at First Nest, also from SIDS. 

Today, in the Early Learning and Human Services Committee, Eve’s parents, Amanda and Kyle Uphold, and Graham’s parents, Andy and Barbara Hazzard, testified in favor of Rep. Ruth Kagi’s bill, HB 2165. HB 2165 will require an outside review of a childcare or early learning center when there is a fatality. Currently, there is no fatality review process in place for childcare. 

At the hearing, Rep. Kagi thanked all the parents for coming to testify and said, “There is no way we can reverse the terrible tragedy of Baby Eve’s death. But, together, we can learn from this tragedy and help prevent future deaths from SIDS and other causes.”

When testifying, both families spoke of the need for transparency, closure and action. They believe that a fatality review committee is an absolute necessity. Barbara Hazzard said, “If a review process was in place, it would have given us some peace of mind, knowing that everything that could have been done, was.” 

If a fatality occurs, HB 2165 will require a rigorous review by a Childcare Fatality Review Committee. The committee, which must include outside experts, will make recommendations to the Dept. of Early Learning and the Legislature to strengthen health and safety standards and practices in childcare – better protecting our vulnerable children. 

“Every one of our babies in childcare should be safe and secure,” Kagi said. “We owe it to all families who’ve had to endure a child’s death, like the Upholds, to pass this bill. I look forward to working with parents, childcare providers and the Department of Early Learning to make that a reality.”