SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 6664

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

        Human Services & Corrections, February 3, 2000

Title:  An act relating to victims' compensation.

Brief Description:  Expanding eligibility for victims' compensation to victims interviewed about past offenses.

Sponsors:  Senators Costa and Kohl‑Welles.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Human Services & Corrections:  2/3/2000, 2/3/2000 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES & CORRECTIONS

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6664 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

  Signed by Senators Hargrove, Chair; Costa, Vice Chair; Franklin, Kohl-Welles, Long, Sheahan, Stevens and Zarelli.

Staff:  Jennifer Strus (786-7484)

Background:  Persons who are victims of sexual offenses are eligible for benefits under the crime victim=s compensation fund.  Occasionally, these victims are required several years later to be witnesses in the commitment process under the sexually violent predator law.  This process revictimizes those victims.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  A person is eligible to receive funds under the crime victim's compensation fund if they file an application within two years of the date the criminal act was reported to law enforcement or the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) in cases of abuse or neglect of a child or adult dependent person.

Benefits under the Victim Compensation Act are available to victims of persons subject to commitment as sexually violent predators under RCW 71.09.  The right to benefits accrues when the person is notified of the commitment proceeding or is interviewed, deposed, or named as a witness in the proceeding.  An application for benefits must be received within two years of the date the right to benefits accrued unless good cause is shown.  Good cause is determined on a case-by-case basis.  Benefits are limited to costs or losses incurred on or after the date the benefits accrue.  Benefits provided to victims of original crimes take precedence over those benefits available to victims who participate in the sexually violent predator commitment process.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  A clarification is made that the date of the person=s conviction controls the amount of the victim penalty assessment ordered.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on February 2, 2000.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  This bill allows those persons revictimized by having to participate in the sexually violent predator commitment process to receive benefits.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Joan Guenther, Washington Coalition of Crime Victim=s Advocates; Suzanne Brown, Washington Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs; Eileen O=Brien, Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney=s Office.