Subject of Possible Rule Making: WAC 296-30-190 Can family members of a homicide victim receive counseling benefits?, the subject of this rule is the benefit in RCW 7.68.070(17). This statute gives the department the authority to provide appropriate counseling to the immediate family members of a homicide victim.

     Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 7.68.030.

     Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: RCW 7.68.070(17) gives the immediate family members of a homicide victim a benefit of appropriate counseling to assist in dealing with the immediate, near-term consequences of the related effects of the homicide. The definition of immediate, near-term consequences needs to be defined in rule.

     The crime victims compensation program is currently administering the benefit identified in RCW 7.68.070(17) by defining the language in an internal policy. Recently a superior court decision upheld the program's internal policy, which defines immediate, near-term consequences as "for which treatment is started within one year."

     Process for Developing New Rule: Public hearing - the public will be given the opportunity to provide written comments and give oral testimony during the public hearing process.

     Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Cletus Nnanabu, Crime Victims Compensation Program Manager, P.O. Box 44520, Olympia, WA 98504-4520, phone (360) 902-5340, fax (360) 902-5333, e-mail nnan235@Lni.wa.gov.

•	A public hearing, in Tumwater, will be scheduled.
•	The Crime Victims' Advisory Committee was notified at the quarterly meeting held on February 5, 2003.
•	The Washington Coalition of Crime Victims' Advocates was notified on March 11, 2003.

May 19, 2003

Paul Trause

Director

© Washington State Code Reviser's Office