SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 6703

              As Passed Senate, February 11, 2000

Title:  An act relating to defining core services for victims of sexual assault.

Brief Description:  Including prevention for potential victims of sexual assault as a core treatment service for victims of sexual assault.

Sponsors:  Senators Costa, Long, Hargrove, Winsley, Kline and Kohl‑Welles; by request of Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Human Services & Corrections:  2/1/2000 [DP].

Passed Senate, 2/11/2000, 42-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES & CORRECTIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass.

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

Staff:  Jinnah Rose-McFadden (786-7444)

Background:  The Victims of Sexual Assault Act ensures that communities throughout the State of Washington provide appropriate services to sexual assault victims.

Mandated services are divided into two categories:  core services and specialized services. Community Sexual Assault Programs (CSAP) provide core services.  Providers who have been awarded bids, via a competitive regional bidding process, provide specialized services.  Core services consist of crisis intervention, legal and medical advocacy, support, system coordination, and information and referral.  Specialized services include support groups, therapy, medical examinations, and prevention education.

Each region is guaranteed funding for the provision of both core and specialized services. Funding from various state sources are pooled and then divided among regions, according to a formula that accounts for individual community needs.  It is a region=s prerogative to award bids for specialized services, as needs dictate.

  Over the past three years, there has been a gradual decline in the number of prevention education programs in the state.  There is some concern that Aprevention@ services cannot compete against other Aspecialized services,@ such as therapy.

Summary of Bill:  The classification of Aprevention@ is changed.  APrevention@ is classified as a core service, rather than a specialized service.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on January 27, 2000.

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

Testimony For:  Education services have been lacking throughout the state for many years, because they are categorized as specialized services.  By placing education within the core services definition, federal funds may be accessed to provide education services in Washington State.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Beverly Emory, Crime Victim Advocates; Susan Brown, WA Coalition for Sexual Assault Programs.