SB 6347-S2.E - DIGEST

(DIGEST AS ENACTED)

      Revises provisions regarding domestic violence incidents.

      Directs the administrator for the courts to develop standard petition and order for protection forms.

      Requires state agencies to conduct a review and issue a report on the current level of domestic violence education.

VETO MESSAGE ON SB 6347-S2

                        March 31, 1992

To the Honorable, the Senate

  of the State of Washington

Ladies and Gentlemen:

      I am returning herewith, without my approval as to sections 3, 5, and 13, Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill No. 6347 entitled:

"AN ACT Relating to domestic violence."

      Sections 2 and 3 of Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill No. 6347 require the Office of the Administrator for the Courts to develop standardized forms, instructions, and informational brochures for persons petitioning for protection under the state's Domestic Violence Protection Act.  Section 5 requires records of incidents of domestic violence to be submitted to the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs for the purpose of collecting statewide crime data.

      Section 13 declares sections 2, 3, and 5, null and void if funding is not provided in the omnibus appropriations act referencing these sections by number.

      Although funding has not been specifically provided in the 1992 Supplemental Appropriations Act, the Office of the Administrator for the Courts can accomplish the provisions of section 2 within available resources.  In order to allow section 2 to go into effect without placing additional burdens on state agencies, I am vetoing section 3, which contains the date for completion, and section 13 which contains the null and void language.

      I am further troubled by the lack of funding for the domestic violence incident reporting contained in section 5.  The broad coverage of section 5 to include all reports of incidents of domestic violence (rather than just reports of felony incidents) is a cost which cannot be absorbed within the current budget of the Criminal Justice Training Commission.  However, because RCW 10.99.030(7) and (8) require law enforcement agencies to maintain records of all domestic violence incidents reported, and to maintain such records identifiable by a specific code, I believe greater cooperation and coordination between law enforcement records of the various state and local jurisdictions is possible.

      Many felonies (for which records are kept) characterized as rape, homicide, assault, arson, robbery, burglary, larceny and motor vehicle theft originate as acts of domestic violence.  The lack of coordinated documentation tends to de-emphasize the explosion in domestic violence incidents.  Failure to document will continue to impair our ability to control, prevent or adequately respond to such violence.

      Despite the veto of section 5, I am directing the Office of Financial Management to work toward obtaining funding, through available grants or applicable federal or state funds, to assist the improvement of domestic violence data through coordinated reporting of domestic violence incidents pursuant to RCW 10.99.030(7).  In the event such funding cannot be found, I encourage the Washington State Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs to work with interested groups to develop a request for funding to the 1993 Legislature.

      With the exception of sections 3, 5, and 13, Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill No. 6347 is approved.

                        Respectfully submitted,

                        Booth Gardner

                        Governor