Title: An act relating to domestic violence.

Brief Description: Establishing the domestic violence hope card study committee.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Judiciary (originally sponsored by Senators Esser, Hargrove, Brandland, Johnson and Rasmussen).

Brief History:

Juvenile Justice & Family Law: 2/17/06, 2/22/06 [DPA].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON JUVENILE JUSTICE & FAMILY LAW

Majority Report: Do pass as amended. Signed by 7 members: Representatives Dickerson, Chair; Moeller, Vice Chair; McDonald, Ranking Minority Member; McCune, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Crouse, Lovick and Roberts.

Staff: Kara Durbin (786-7133).

Background:

Domestic violence includes, but is not limited to, crimes such as assault, stalking, malicious mischief, and rape when committed by one family or household member against another.

Under the Domestic Violence Prevention Act, a person may seek an order for protection by filing a petition with a court alleging that the person has been the victim of domestic violence committed by the respondent. There are several types of protective orders, including restraining orders, no-contact orders, and anti-harassment protection orders. In all protective orders, the person restrained may be prohibited from disturbing the peace of the other party, going onto the grounds or entering the home, workplace, or school of the other party, or daycare or school of any child. In addition, a protective order often restrains a person from knowingly coming within, or knowingly remaining within, a specified distance from a location.

Summary of Amended Bill:

The Domestic Violence Hope Card Study Committee (Committee) is created. The Committee will consist of the following 16 members:

• four legislators, one from each caucus in the House of Representatives and Senate;
• two representatives of law enforcement, one police chief and one elected sheriff, appointed by the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs;
• one representative of the Washington State Patrol;
• one representative from the Attorney General's Office;
• one representative of the Administrative Office of the Courts;
• one representative of the Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers;
• one representative of the Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys;
• one representative of the Office of Crime Victims Advocacy;
• one representative of the Washington State Association of County Clerks; and
• three representatives appointed by the Governor, including one representative of a tribal government, one representative of a statewide domestic violence advocacy group, and one representative who is an advocate for domestic violence victims on tribal lands.

The Committee is directed to review the practicality of requiring the statewide distribution of wallet-sized cards to victims of domestic violence that: (a) documents the existence and contents of a protection order and provides identifying information about the respondent, including a photograph; and (b) contains contact information regarding the courts, available domestic violence services, and law enforcement.

The Committee will review what information is currently statutorily required to be provided to victims of domestic violence and whether victims are receiving the information. The Committee will also study the costs involved with the implementation of such a statewide program; the confidentiality, privacy, and safety concerns that may be implicated; and how non-state funds could be used to pay for implementation of the program.

The Committee must report to the Legislature on its findings and proposed legislation, if any, by December 31, 2006. The Committee expires on June 30, 2007.

Legislative members of the task force are to be reimbursed for travel expenses in accordance with state law. Non-legislative members, except those representing an employer or organization, are to be reimbursed for travel expenses in accordance with state law.

The Office of Program Research, Senate Committee Services, and the Office of Crime Victims Advocacy will provide staff support for the Committee.

Amended Bill Compared to Substitute Bill:

The amended bill adds that the Committee must review how non-state funds could be utilized to pay for the cost of implementing the program.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date of Amended Bill: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: The Hope card is a great idea. Montana has a similar program that is used on their Indian reservations. It helps make the protective order process more user-friendly. It also makes it easy for the victim to carry the protective order around. It allows the victim to show a police officer the card when seeking enforcement of a protective order. This study committee has good representation. There will be costs involved and other logistics that need to be worked out. This group could also look into the possibility of seeking private funding for implementation. This card could make enforcement easier, since all of the cards would have a uniform appearance.

Testimony Against: None.

Persons Testifying: Senator Esser, prime sponsor; and Pam Crone, Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.