H-0531.2  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 1753

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      56th Legislature     1999 Regular Session

By Representatives Constantine, Ballasiotes, Dickerson, O'Brien, Lantz, Edmonds, Hurst, Cairnes, Lovick, Kagi, Keiser, Veloria, Ruderman, Rockefeller, Regala, Hatfield, Santos, Conway, Cody, Kenney, Ogden, Campbell and Wood

Read first time 02/04/1999.  Referred to Committee on Judiciary.

Increasing the availability of legal services for victims of domestic violence.

    AN ACT Relating to increasing the availability of legal services for victims of domestic violence; creating a new section; and providing an expiration date.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  The Washington state institute for public policy shall study the availability of pro bono legal services for victims of domestic violence who have children.  The study shall include the following:

    (1) Any factors preventing victims of domestic violence who have children from obtaining pro bono legal services;

    (2) Methods to increase the availability of pro bono legal services for victims of domestic violence who have children including, but not limited to:

    (a) Providing a reduction of the state business and occupation tax for businesses who provide pro bono legal services for victims of domestic violence who have children; and

    (b) Increasing the availability of state-funded pro bono legal services to victims of domestic violence who have children.

    (3) An examination, in both urban and rural areas, of the cost, feasibility, and effectiveness of each method identified by the study under subsection (2) of this section.

    (4) Any cost savings to the state from the increased availability of pro bono legal services for victims of domestic violence with children resulting from the implementation of the methods identified by the study under subsection (2) of this section.

    The Washington state institute for public policy shall report its findings to the legislature by January 3, 2000.

    This section expires January 31, 2000.

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