H-4156.1 _______________________________________________
HOUSE BILL 2652
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State of Washington 54th Legislature 1996 Regular Session
By Representatives Ballasiotes, Costa and Scott
Read first time 01/16/96. Referred to Committee on Corrections.
AN ACT Relating to the costs of hospitalizing criminally insane patients; amending RCW 43.20B.335 and 43.20B.345; and creating a new section.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that laws and regulations relating to the rights of the state to collection from criminally insane patients for cost of their hospitalization are in need of clarification. The legislature previously directed the department of social and health services to set standards regarding ability of such patients to pay that would include pertinent factors, as well as unusual and exceptional circumstances. The legislature finds that the regulations established by the department fail to take into account a factor and circumstance that should be paramount: Compensation owed by the patient to victims of his or her criminally insane conduct. The state public policy recognizes the due dignity and respect to be accorded victims of crime and the need for victims to be compensated, as set forth in Article I, section 35 of the state Constitution and in chapter 7.68 RCW. The legislature did not intend, in enacting RCW 43.20B.320, that the department attempt to obtain funds for hospitalization of criminally insane patients that would otherwise have compensated the victims of the patient. The purpose of this act is to clarify legislative intent and existing law.
Sec. 2. RCW 43.20B.335 and 1987 c 75 s 14 are each amended to read as follows:
The department is authorized to investigate the financial condition of each person liable under the provisions of RCW 43.20B.355 and 43.20B.325 through 43.20B.350, and is further authorized to make determinations of the ability of each such person to pay hospitalization charges and/or charges for outpatient services, in accordance with the provisions of RCW 43.20B.355 and 43.20B.325 through 43.20B.350, and, for such purposes, to set a standard as a basis of judgment of ability to pay, which standard shall be recomputed periodically to reflect changes in the costs of living, and other pertinent factors, and to make provisions for unusual and exceptional circumstances in the application of such standard. Such factors and circumstances shall include judgments owed by the person to any victim of an act that would have resulted in criminal conviction of the patient but for a finding of criminal insanity. A victim shall include a personal representative of an estate who has obtained judgment for wrongful death against the criminally insane patient.
In accordance with the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act, chapter 34.05 RCW, the department shall adopt appropriate rules and regulations relating to the standards to be applied in determining ability to pay such charges, the schedule of charges pursuant to RCW 43.20B.325, and such other rules and regulations as are deemed necessary to administer the provisions of RCW 43.20B.355 and 43.20B.325 through 43.20B.350.
Sec. 3. RCW 43.20B.345 and 1987 c 75 s 16 are each amended to read as follows:
Whenever any notice and finding of responsibility, or appeal therefrom, shall have become final, the superior court, wherein such person or persons reside or have property either real or personal, shall, upon application of the secretary enter a judgment in the amount of the accrued monthly charges for the costs of hospitalization, and/or the costs of outpatient services, and such judgment shall have and be given the same effect as if entered pursuant to civil action instituted in said court; except, such judgment shall not be the subject of collection by the department unless and until any outstanding judgment for a victim referenced in RCW 43.20B.335 has been fully satisfied.
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