CERTIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT

 

                        SENATE BILL 5270

 

 

                   Chapter 153, Laws of 2001

 

 

                        57th Legislature

                      2001 Regular Session

 

 

VICTIMS' COMPENSATION--VICTIMS OF SEXUALLY VIOLENT PREDATORS

 

 

 

                    EFFECTIVE DATE:  7/22/01

Passed by the Senate March 6, 2001

  YEAS 46   NAYS 0

 

 

               BRAD OWEN

President of the Senate

 

Passed by the House April 12, 2001

  YEAS 94   NAYS 0

             CERTIFICATE

 

I, Tony M. Cook, Secretary of the Senate of the State of Washington, do hereby certify that the attached is  SENATE BILL 5270 as passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives on the dates hereon set forth.

 

 

              FRANK CHOPP

Speaker of the

      House of Representatives

            TONY M. COOK

                            Secretary

 

 

 

             CLYDE BALLARD

Speaker of the

      House of Representatives

 

 

Approved May 2, 2001 Place Style On Codes above, and Style Off Codes below.  

                                FILED          

 

 

             May 2, 2001 - 10:45 a.m.

 

 

 

              GARY LOCKE

Governor of the State of Washington

                 Secretary of State

                 State of Washington


          _______________________________________________

 

                         SENATE BILL 5270

          _______________________________________________

 

             Passed Legislature - 2001 Regular Session

 

State of Washington      57th Legislature     2001 Regular Session

 

By Senators Costa, Long, Gardner, Carlson and Kohl‑Welles

 

Read first time 01/17/2001.  Referred to Committee on Human Services & Corrections.

Modifying requirements for certain victims of sexually violent predators to be eligible for victims' compensation. 


    AN ACT Relating to modifying requirements for certain victims of sexually violent predators to be eligible for victims' compensation; and amending RCW 7.68.060.

 

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

 

    Sec. 1.  RCW 7.68.060 and 1996 c 122 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) For the purposes of applying for benefits under this chapter, the rights, privileges, responsibilities, duties, limitations and procedures contained in RCW 51.28.020, 51.28.030, 51.28.040 and 51.28.060 shall apply:  PROVIDED, That except for applications received pursuant to subsection (4) of this section, no compensation of any kind shall be available under this chapter if:

    (a) An application for benefits is not received by the department within two years after the date the criminal act was reported to a local police department or sheriff's office or the date the rights of dependents or beneficiaries accrued, unless the director has determined that "good cause" exists to expand the time permitted to receive the application.  "Good cause" shall be determined by the department on a case-by-case basis and may extend the period of time in which an application can be received for up to five years after the date the criminal act was reported to a local police department or sheriff's office or the date the rights of dependents or beneficiaries accrued; or

    (b) The criminal act is not reported by the victim or someone on his or her behalf to a local police department or sheriff's office within twelve months of its occurrence or, if it could not reasonably have been reported within that period, within twelve months of the time when a report could reasonably have been made.  In making determinations as to reasonable time limits, the department shall give greatest weight to the needs of the victims.

    (2) This section shall apply only to criminal acts reported after December 31, 1985.

    (3) Because victims of childhood criminal acts may repress conscious memory of such criminal acts far beyond the age of eighteen, the rights of adult victims of childhood criminal acts shall accrue at the time the victim discovers or reasonably should have discovered the elements of the crime.  In making determinations as to reasonable time limits, the department shall give greatest weight to the needs of the victim.

    (4) A right to benefits under this chapter is available to any victim of a person against whom the state initiates proceedings under chapter 71.09 RCW.  The right created under this subsection shall accrue when the victim is notified of proceedings under chapter 71.09 RCW or the victim is interviewed, deposed, or testifies as a witness in connection with the proceedings.  An application for benefits under this subsection must be received by the department within two years after the date the victim's right accrued unless the director determines that good cause exists to expand the time to receive the application.  The director shall determine "good cause" on a case-by-case basis and may extend the period of time in which an application can be received for up to five years after the date the right of the victim accrued.  Benefits under this subsection shall be limited to compensation for costs or losses incurred on or after the date the victim's right accrues for a claim allowed under this subsection.


    Passed the Senate March 6, 2001.

    Passed the House April 12, 2001.

Approved by the Governor May 2, 2001.

    Filed in Office of Secretary of State May 2, 2001.