Brief Description: Providing for address confidentiality of victims of trafficking.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Human Services & Corrections (originally sponsored by Senators Kohl-Welles, Swecker, Hargrove, Regala, Fraser, Marr and Kauffman).

Senate Committee on Human Services & Corrections
House Committee on State Government & Tribal Affairs

Background: Victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking may apply to the Secretary of State to have an alternative address designated as the person's address. This allows state and local agencies to comply with requests for public records without disclosing the confidential location of a victim.

The application must include a sworn statement from the applicant that he or she is a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking and fears for his or her safety. The applicant must also provide the Secretary of State with contact information as well as the designated address that the applicant requests remain confidential.

Trafficking is generally when a person recruits, harbors, or transports another person knowing that force, fraud, or coercion will be used to cause the person to engage in forced labor or involuntary servitude.

Summary: Victims of trafficking are added to the list of victims eligible for the address confidentiality program. Trafficking has the meaning provided in the current criminal code and as defined in federal law. However, the act does not need to be reported to law enforcement for the victim to utilize the program.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate      47   0
House      95   0   (House amended)
Senate      47   0   (Senate concurred)

Effective: June 12, 2008