Couture decries homeless youth bill, calling it state-sponsored kidnapping of kids, for gender-affirming care
During Monday’s House Appropriations Committee, Ranking Republican, Rep. Travis Couture, R-Allyn, took an uncompromising stand against a bill he described as state-sponsored kidnapping. Senate Bill 6184 would let youth shelters and other state-run programs for runaways, homeless youth, and other minors delay notifying parents their child is at the shelter or crisis response center if there is a complelling reason, such as risk of abuse if the parents are notfied or protected health care situations, including seeking or receiving gender-affirming care. Couture slammed the bill, calling some of scenarios it could lead to for Washington families, “nuts.”
