H-1250.2 _______________________________________________
HOUSE BILL 1715
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State of Washington 55th Legislature 1997 Regular Session
By Representative McMorris
Read first time 02/05/97. Referred to Committee on Law & Justice.
AN ACT Relating to notifying victims of criminal proceedings; and amending RCW 7.69.050.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
Sec. 1. RCW 7.69.050 and 1985 c 443 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) Nothing contained in this chapter may be construed to provide grounds for error in favor of a criminal defendant in a criminal proceeding, nor may anything in this chapter be construed to grant a new cause of action or remedy against the state, its political subdivisions, law enforcement agencies, or prosecuting attorneys. Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, the failure of a person to make a reasonable effort to ensure that victims, survivors, and witnesses under this chapter have the rights enumerated in RCW 7.69.030 shall not result in civil liability against that person.
(2) The failure of a local law enforcement agency or prosecuting attorney to inform a victim or survivor of a victim as required in RCW 7.69.030 (2) and (12) shall not result in civil liability unless the local law enforcement agency or prosecuting attorney acted in bad faith or with gross negligence in failing to make a reasonable effort to inform a victim or survivor of a victim.
(3) This chapter does not limit other civil remedies or defenses of the offender or the victim or survivors of the victim.
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