S-0842.1  _______________________________________________

                         SENATE BILL 5505

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State of Washington      54th Legislature     1995 Regular Session

By Senators Smith, Quigley and Roach

Read first time 01/25/95.  Referred to Committee on Law & Justice.

Providing penalties for false accusations of child abuse or neglect.

    AN ACT Relating to false accusations of child abuse or neglect; adding a new section to chapter 26.44 RCW; and prescribing penalties.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 26.44 RCW to read as follows:

    If a court determines that an accusation of child abuse or neglect made during a child custody proceeding under this title is false, and the person making the accusation knew it to be false at the time the accusation was made, the court may impose a monetary penalty, not to exceed one thousand dollars and reasonable attorneys' fees incurred in recovering the penalty, against the person making the accusation.  For the purpose of this section, "person" includes a witness, a party, or a party's attorney.

    The remedy provided by this section is in addition to any other remedy provided by law.

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