CERTIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT
ENGROSSED SENATE BILL 5135
Chapter 330, Laws of 2021
67TH LEGISLATURE
2021 REGULAR SESSION
UNLAWFULLY SUMMONING A POLICE OFFICER
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 25, 2021
Passed by the Senate March 8, 2021 Yeas 28 Nays 21 DENNY HECK
President of the Senate Passed by the House April 9, 2021 Yeas 58 Nays 40 LAURIE JINKINS
Speaker of the House of Representatives | CERTIFICATE I, Brad Hendrickson, Secretary of the Senate of the State of Washington, do hereby certify that the attached is ENGROSSED SENATE BILL 5135 as passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives on the dates hereon set forth. BRAD HENDRICKSON
Secretary Secretary |
Approved May 18, 2021 2:07 PM | FILED May 19, 2021 |
JAY INSLEE
Governor of the State of Washington | Secretary of State State of Washington |
ENGROSSED SENATE BILL 5135
Passed Legislature - 2021 Regular Session
State of Washington | 67th Legislature | 2021 Regular Session |
BySenators Das, Hasegawa, Nguyen, Stanford, and Wilson, C.
Prefiled 01/08/21.Read first time 01/11/21.Referred to Committee on Law & Justice.
AN ACT Relating to unlawfully summoning a police officer; and adding a new section to chapter
4.24 RCW.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter
4.24 RCW to read as follows:
(1) A person may bring a civil action for damages against any person who knowingly causes a law enforcement officer to arrive at a location to contact another person with the intent to:
(a) Infringe on the other person's rights under the Washington state or United States Constitutions;
(b) Unlawfully discriminate against the other person;
(c) Cause the other person to feel harassed, humiliated, or embarrassed;
(d) Cause the other person to be expelled from a place in which the other person is lawfully located; or
(e) Damage the other person's:
(i) Reputation or standing in the community; or
(ii) Financial, economic, consumer, or business prospects or interests.
(2) A person shall not be held liable under subsection (1) of this section if the person acted in good faith in causing a law enforcement officer to arrive.
(3) Upon prevailing in an action under this section, the plaintiff may recover:
(a) The greater of:
(i) Economic and noneconomic damages; or
(ii) $250 against each defendant found liable under this section; and
(b) Punitive damages.
(4) The court may award reasonable attorneys' fees and costs to the prevailing plaintiff in an action under this section.
(5) A civil action under this section:
(a) May be maintained in a court of limited jurisdiction if the total damages claimed do not exceed the statutory limit for damages that the court of limited jurisdiction may award; and
(b) Does not affect a right or remedy available under any other law of this state.
Passed by the Senate March 8, 2021.
Passed by the House April 9, 2021.
Approved by the Governor May 18, 2021.
Filed in Office of Secretary of State May 19, 2021.
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