SENATE BILL REPORT

                                   ESHB 1534

            AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS, APRIL 8, 1991

Brief Description:  Providing training for investigating and prosecuting sexual assault cases.

SPONSORS:House Committee on Judiciary (originally sponsored by Representatives H. Myers, Beck, Riley, R. King, Tate, Anderson, Vance, Cooper, Ludwig, Hargrove, Padden, Bray, Rasmussen, Sheldon, Leonard, Forner, Brekke, Peery, Belcher, G. Fisher, Morris, Grant, Jones, O'Brien, Orr, Wang, Heavey, Roland, Paris and Winsley).

HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LAW & JUSTICE

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

      Signed by Senators Nelson, Chairman; Thorsness, Vice Chairman; Erwin, L. Kreidler, Madsen, Newhouse, and Rasmussen.

Staff:  Jack Brummel (786‑7428)

Hearing Dates:April 2, 1991; April 5, 1991

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Majority Report:  Do pass.

      Signed by Senators McDonald, Chairman; Craswell, Vice Chairman; Bailey, Bauer, Bluechel, Cantu, Gaspard, Hayner, Johnson, L. Kreidler, Matson, Metcalf, Murray, Newhouse, Niemi, Owen, Saling, L. Smith, Talmadge, West, Williams, and Wojahn. 

Staff:  Cindi Holmstrom (786-7715)

Hearing Dates: April 8, 1991

BACKGROUND:

Some prosecutors, law enforcement officers, public defenders, and victim advocates lack specialized training in the area of sexual assault and child sexual abuse.  Victim advocates may assist victims and their families through the investigation and prosecution of the case.  Rape crisis centers currently funded through the Department of Social and Health Services could offer advocacy services for victims if funded.

SUMMARY:

The Criminal Justice Training Commission is to offer a yearly training session on investigating and prosecuting sexual assault cases for prosecutors, police officers, public defenders, and victim advocates.  The training must be self supporting through fees charged to the participants.  The counties may use funds available from the local criminal justice funding provision enacted in 1990 to pay for the training.

Rape crisis centers may apply for grants to hire and train victim advocates for sexual assault cases.  The victim advocates must complete the training program offered by the Criminal Justice Training Commission or at the center's option, an alternative training program.  Twenty-five percent of the funding for the victim advocate grants must be provided by non-state sources.  The grant program is subject to funding in the budget.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  requested March 29, 1991

Effective Date:  July 1, 1991

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED SENATE AMENDMENT:

Reference to funds available under county and municipal criminal justice assistance accounts is removed.

TESTIMONY FOR (Law & Justice):

There is a need for adequate training for everyone involved in sexual assault and child sexual abuse cases.  The training will help avoid burnout.

TESTIMONY AGAINST (Law & Justice):  None

TESTIFIED (Law & Justice):  PRO:  Representative Holly Myers, original prime sponsor; Representative Mike Riley, original sponsor; Dawn Larson, Washington Association of Sexual Assault Programs; Lois Lungens, DSHS; Bev Emory, DCD; Mike Redman, Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys

TESTIMONY FOR (Ways & Means):

Victims of sexual assault and the victim's families, particularly in cases where the victims are children, should be treated with sensitivity and professionalism.  This will increase the likelihood of their cooperation with the investigation and prosecution of the case.

TESTIMONY AGAINST (Ways & Means):  None

TESTIFIED (Ways & Means):  PRO:  Representative Holly Myers, prime sponsor; Steve Eckstrom, Office of Crime Victims Advisory DCD; Lonnie Johns-Brown, Washington Association of Sexual Assault Programs; Kemi Anderson, Sexual Assault Crisis Center of Pierce County; Mike Redman, Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys