Brief Description: Creating the domestic violence prevention account.

Sponsors: By House Committee on Juvenile Justice & Family Law (originally sponsored by Representatives Dickerson, Darneille, Upthegrove, Lovick, Lantz, Simpson, Morrell, Williams, Conway, Roberts, Moeller, Kenney, Wood, Kagi, McDermott, Santos, Chase and Ormsby).

House Committee on Juvenile Justice & Family Law
House Committee on Appropriations
Senate Committee on Judiciary
Senate Committee on Ways & Means

Background:

Dissolution Filing Fees

Filing fees in Washington for a petition for dissolution, legal separation, or declaration concerning the validity of marriage are established by statute. The statute requires the superior court clerk to collect a $110 fee from the petitioner for the initial filing. In addition, in counties that provide a courthouse facilitator program, the filing fee may be as high as $120. The filing fee may be waived upon showing financial hardship.

In 2003, there were approximately 29,500 petitions for dissolution, legal separation, or declaration concerning the validity of marriage.

Domestic Violence Services

The Department of Social and Health Services administers funds appropriated from the State General Fund and the Public Safety and Education Account for domestic violence services.

Summary:

Superior court clerks must collect an additional $30 from any party filing a petition for dissolution, legal separation, or declaration concerning the validity of marriage. The clerk must transmit monthly $24 out of the $30 fee for deposit in the Domestic Violence Prevention Account newly created in the state treasury. The remaining $6 is retained by the county collecting the fee for the purpose of funding community-based services for victims of domestic violence within the county. In addition, the court may retain 5 percent of the $6 (which equals 30 cents) for administrative purposes. Revenue transferred into the Domestic Violence Prevention Account must be used to fund nonshelter community-based services for domestic violence victims.

The Department of Social and Health Services administers the funds in the Domestic Violence Prevention Account and may establish minimum standards for preventive, nonshelter community-based services receiving the funds. Preventive, nonshelter community-based services include services for victims of domestic violence from communities that have been traditionally underserved or unserved and services for children who have witnessed domestic violence.

Votes on Final Passage:

House   71   25
Senate   38   9   (Senate amended)
House   80   18   (House concurred)

Effective: July 24, 2005