6508-S.E2 AMH WAYS H5513.1

2ESSB 6508  - H COMM AMD
     By Committee on Ways & Means

ADOPTED AS AMENDED 03/04/2010

     Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:

"Sec. 1   RCW 4.20.020 and 2007 c 156 s 29 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Every ((such)) action under RCW 4.20.010 shall be for the benefit of the ((wife, husband)) spouse, state registered domestic partner, ((child)) or children, including stepchildren, of the person whose death shall have been so caused. If there ((be)) is no ((wife, husband)) spouse, state registered domestic partner, or ((such)) child ((or children, such)), the action may be maintained for the benefit of:
     (a) T
he parents((, sisters, or brothers, who may be dependent upon the deceased person for support, and who are resident within the United States at the time of his death)) of a deceased adult child if the parents are financially dependent upon the adult child for support or if the parents have had significant involvement in the adult child's life; or
     (b) Sisters or brothers who are financially dependent upon the decedent for support if there is no spouse, state registered domestic partner, child, or parent
.
     In every such action the jury may ((give such)) award economic and noneconomic damages as((,)) under all circumstances of the case((,)) may to them seem just.
     (2) For the purposes of this section:
     (a) "Financially dependent for support" means substantial dependence based on the receipt of services that have an economic or monetary value, or substantial dependence based on actual monetary payments or contributions; and
     (b) "Significant involvement" means demonstrated support of an emotional, psychological, or financial nature within the relationship, at or reasonably near the time of death, or at or reasonably near the time of the incident causing death.

Sec. 2   RCW 4.20.046 and 2008 c 6 s 409 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) All causes of action by a person or persons against another person or persons shall survive to the personal representatives of the former and against the personal representatives of the latter, whether ((such)) the actions arise on contract or otherwise, and whether or not ((such)) the actions would have survived at the common law or prior to the date of enactment of this section((: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That)).
     (2) In addition to recovering economic losses for the estate,
the personal representative ((shall only be)) is entitled to recover on behalf of those beneficiaries identified under RCW 4.20.060 any noneconomic damages for pain and suffering, anxiety, emotional distress, or humiliation personal to and suffered by ((a)) the deceased ((on behalf of those beneficiaries enumerated in RCW 4.20.020, and)) in such amounts as determined by a jury to be just under all the circumstances of the case. Damages under this section are recoverable regardless of whether or not the death was occasioned by the injury that is the basis for the action.
     (3) The liability of property of spouses or domestic partners held by them as community property and subject to execution in satisfaction of a claim enforceable against such property so held shall not be affected by the death of either or both spouses or either or both domestic partners; and a cause of action shall remain an asset as though both claiming spouses or both claiming domestic partners continued to live despite the death of either or both claiming spouses or both claiming domestic partners.
     (((2))) (4) Where death or an injury to person or property, resulting from a wrongful act, neglect or default, occurs simultaneously with or after the death of a person who would have been liable therefor if his or her death had not occurred simultaneously with such death or injury or had not intervened between the wrongful act, neglect or default and the resulting death or injury, an action to recover damages for such death or injury may be maintained against the personal representative of such person.

Sec. 3   RCW 4.20.060 and 2007 c 156 s 30 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) No action for a personal injury to any person occasioning death shall abate, nor shall ((such)) the right of action ((determine)) terminate, by reason of ((such)) the death((,)) if ((such)) the person has a surviving ((spouse, state registered domestic partner, or child living, including stepchildren, or leaving no surviving spouse, state registered domestic partner, or such children, if there is dependent upon the deceased for support and resident within the United States at the time of decedent's death, parents, sisters, or brothers; but such action may be prosecuted, or commenced and prosecuted, by the executor or administrator)) beneficiary in whose favor the action may be brought under subsection (2) of this section.
     (2) An action under this section shall be brought by the personal representative
of the deceased((,)) in favor of ((such)) the surviving spouse or state registered domestic partner((, or in favor of the surviving spouse or state registered domestic partner)) and ((such)) children((, or if)). If there is no surviving spouse ((or)), state registered domestic partner, ((in favor of such child)) or children, ((or if no surviving spouse, state registered domestic partner, or such child or children, then)) the action shall be brought in favor of the decedent's:
     (a) P
arents((, sisters, or brothers who may be dependent upon such person for support, and resident in the United States at the time of decedent's death)) if the parents are financially dependent upon the decedent for support or if the parents have had significant involvement in the decedent's life; or
     (b) Sisters or brothers who are financially dependent upon the decedent for support if there is no spouse, state registered domestic partner, child, or parent.
     (3) In addition to recovering economic losses, the persons identified in subsection (2) of this section are entitled to recover any noneconomic damages personal to and suffered by the decedent including, but not limited to, damages for the decedent's pain and suffering, anxiety, emotional distress, or humiliation, in such amounts as determined by a jury to be just under all the circumstances of the case.
     (4) For the purposes of this section:
     (a) "Financially dependent for support" means substantial dependence based on the receipt of services that have an economic or monetary value, or substantial dependence based on actual monetary payments or contributions; and
     (b) "Significant involvement" means demonstrated support of an emotional, psychological, or financial nature within the relationship, at or reasonably near the time of death, or at or reasonably near the time of the incident causing death
.

Sec. 4   RCW 4.24.010 and 1998 c 237 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) A ((mother or father, or both,)) parent who has regularly contributed to the support of his or her minor child, ((and the mother or father, or both, of a child on whom either, or both, are)) or a parent who is financially dependent on a minor child for support or who has had significant involvement in the minor child's life, may maintain or join ((as a party)) an action as plaintiff for the injury or death of the child.
     (2) Each parent, separately from the other parent, is entitled to recover for his or her own loss regardless of marital status, even though this section creates only one cause of action((, but if the parents of the child are not married, are separated, or not married to each other damages may be awarded to each plaintiff separately, as the trier of fact finds just and equitable)).
     (3) If one parent brings an action under this section and the other parent is not named as a plaintiff, notice of the institution of the suit, together with a copy of the complaint, shall be served upon the other parent: PROVIDED, That notice shall be required only if parentage has been duly established.
     Such notice shall be in compliance with the statutory requirements for a summons. Such notice shall state that the other parent must join as a party to the suit within twenty days or the right to recover damages under this section shall be barred. Failure of the other parent to timely appear shall bar such parent's action to recover any part of an award made to the party instituting the suit.
     (4) In ((such)) an action under this section, in addition to damages for medical, hospital, medication expenses, and loss of services and support, damages may be recovered for the loss of love and companionship of the child and for injury to or destruction of the parent-child relationship in such amount as, under all the circumstances of the case, may be just.
     (5) For the purposes of this section:
     (a) "Financially dependent for support" means substantial dependence based on the receipt of services that have an economic or monetary value, or substantial dependence based on actual monetary payments or contributions; and
     (b) "Significant involvement" means demonstrated support of an emotional, psychological, or financial nature within the relationship, at or reasonably near the time of death, or at or reasonably near the time of the incident causing death.

Sec. 5   RCW 4.92.006 and 2002 c 332 s 10 are each amended to read as follows:
     As used in this chapter:
     (1) "Office" means the office of financial management.
     (2) "Director" means the director of financial management.
     (3) "Risk management division" means the division of the office of financial management that carries out the powers and duties under this chapter relating to claim filing, claims administration, and claims payment.
     (4) "Risk manager" means the person supervising the risk management division.
     (5) "Local government" means every unit of local government, both general purpose and special purpose, and includes, but is not limited to, counties, cities, towns, port districts, public utility districts, irrigation districts, metropolitan municipal corporations, conservation districts, and other political subdivisions, governmental subdivisions, municipal corporations, and quasimunicipal corporations.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6   A new section is added to chapter 4.92 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The local government liability reimbursement account is created as a nonappropriated account in the custody of the state treasurer. Only the state director of risk management or the director's designee may authorize expenditures from the account. Expenditures from the account may be used only to reimburse local governments for judgments, settlements, and reasonable defense costs that are incurred by local governments as a result of this act.
     (2) The state director of risk management may authorize expenditures from the local government liability reimbursement account when (a) the head or governing body of a local government certifies to the risk management division that a claim has been settled against a local government under this act; or (b) the clerk of the court has made and forwarded a certified copy of a final judgment in a court of competent jurisdiction and the director of risk management determines that the judgment was entered against a local government in a claim based on this act. Payment of a judgment shall be made to the clerk of the court for the benefit of the judgment creditors. Upon receipt of payment, the clerk shall satisfy the judgment against the local government.

Sec. 7   RCW 4.96.020 and 2009 c 433 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The provisions of this section apply to claims for damages against all local governmental entities and their officers, employees, or volunteers, acting in such capacity, except that claims involving injuries from health care are governed solely by the procedures set forth in chapter 7.70 RCW and are exempt from this chapter.
     (2) The governing body of each local governmental entity shall appoint an agent to receive any claim for damages made under this chapter. The identity of the agent and the address where he or she may be reached during the normal business hours of the local governmental entity are public records and shall be recorded with the auditor of the county in which the entity is located. All claims for damages against a local governmental entity, or against any local governmental entity's officers, employees, or volunteers, acting in such capacity, shall be presented to the agent within the applicable period of limitations within which an action must be commenced. A claim is deemed presented when the claim form is delivered in person or is received by the agent by regular mail, registered mail, or certified mail, with return receipt requested, to the agent or other person designated to accept delivery at the agent's office. The failure of a local governmental entity to comply with the requirements of this section precludes that local governmental entity from raising a defense under this chapter.
     (3) For claims for damages presented after July 26, 2009, all claims for damages must be presented on the standard tort claim form that is maintained by the risk management division of the office of financial management, except as allowed under (c) of this subsection. The standard tort claim form must be posted on the office of financial management's web site.
     (a) The standard tort claim form must, at a minimum, require the following information:
     (i) The claimant's name, date of birth, and contact information;
     (ii) A description of the conduct and the circumstances that brought about the injury or damage;
     (iii) A description of the injury or damage;
     (iv) A statement of the time and place that the injury or damage occurred;
     (v) A listing of the names of all persons involved and contact information, if known;
     (vi) A statement of the amount of damages claimed; and
     (vii) A statement of the actual residence of the claimant at the time of presenting the claim and at the time the claim arose.
     (b) The standard tort claim form must be signed either:
     (i) By the claimant, verifying the claim;
     (ii) Pursuant to a written power of attorney, by the attorney in fact for the claimant;
     (iii) By an attorney admitted to practice in Washington state on the claimant's behalf; or
     (iv) By a court-approved guardian or guardian ad litem on behalf of the claimant.
     (c) Local governmental entities shall make available the standard tort claim form described in this section with instructions on how the form is to be presented and the name, address, and business hours of the agent of the local governmental entity. If a local governmental entity chooses to also make available its own tort claim form in lieu of the standard tort claim form, the form:
     (i) May require additional information beyond what is specified under this section, but the local governmental entity may not deny a claim because of the claimant's failure to provide that additional information;
     (ii) Must not require the claimant's social security number; and
     (iii) Must include instructions on how the form is to be presented and the name, address, and business hours of the agent of the local governmental entity appointed to receive the claim.
     (d) If any claim form provided by the local governmental entity fails to require the information specified in this section, or incorrectly lists the agent with whom the claim is to be filed, the local governmental entity is deemed to have waived any defense related to the failure to provide that specific information or to present the claim to the proper designated agent.
     (e) Presenting either the standard tort claim form or the local government tort claim form satisfies the requirements of this chapter.
     (f) The amount of damages stated on the claim form is not admissible at trial.
     (4) No action subject to the claim filing requirements of this section shall be commenced against any local governmental entity, or against any local governmental entity's officers, employees, or volunteers, acting in such capacity, for damages arising out of tortious conduct until sixty calendar days have elapsed after the claim has first been presented to the agent of the governing body thereof. The applicable period of limitations within which an action must be commenced shall be tolled during the sixty calendar day period. For the purposes of the applicable period of limitations, an action commenced within five court days after the sixty calendar day period has elapsed is deemed to have been presented on the first day after the sixty calendar day period elapsed.
     (5) With respect to the content of claims under this section and all procedural requirements in this section, this section must be liberally construed so that substantial compliance will be deemed satisfactory.
     (6) When any claim for damages is filed against a local governmental entity based on this act, within ten days of the filing the local governmental entity must notify the state risk manager of the claim.

Sec. 8   RCW 36.18.020 and 2009 c 572 s 4, 2009 c 479 s 21, and 2009 c 417 s 3 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:
     (1) Revenue collected under this section is subject to division with the state under RCW 36.18.025 and with the county or regional law library fund under RCW 27.24.070, except as provided in subsections (5) and (6) of this section.
     (2) Clerks of superior courts shall collect the following fees for their official services:
     (a) In addition to any other fee required by law, the party filing the first or initial document in any civil action, including, but not limited to an action for restitution, adoption, or change of name, and any party filing a counterclaim, cross-claim, or third-party claim in any such civil action, shall pay, at the time the document is filed, a fee of two hundred dollars except, in an unlawful detainer action under chapter 59.18 or 59.20 RCW for which the plaintiff shall pay a case initiating filing fee of forty-five dollars, or in proceedings filed under RCW 28A.225.030 alleging a violation of the compulsory attendance laws where the petitioner shall not pay a filing fee. The forty-five dollar filing fee under this subsection for an unlawful detainer action shall not include an order to show cause or any other order or judgment except a default order or default judgment in an unlawful detainer action.
     (b) Any party, except a defendant in a criminal case, filing the first or initial document on an appeal from a court of limited jurisdiction or any party on any civil appeal, shall pay, when the document is filed, a fee of two hundred dollars.
     (c) For filing of a petition for judicial review as required under RCW 34.05.514 a filing fee of two hundred dollars.
     (d) For filing of a petition for unlawful harassment under RCW 10.14.040 a filing fee of fifty-three dollars.
     (e) For filing the notice of debt due for the compensation of a crime victim under RCW 7.68.120(2)(a) a fee of two hundred dollars.
     (f) In probate proceedings, the party instituting such proceedings, shall pay at the time of filing the first document therein, a fee of two hundred dollars.
     (g) For filing any petition to contest a will admitted to probate or a petition to admit a will which has been rejected, or a petition objecting to a written agreement or memorandum as provided in RCW 11.96A.220, there shall be paid a fee of two hundred dollars.
     (h) Upon conviction or plea of guilty, upon failure to prosecute an appeal from a court of limited jurisdiction as provided by law, or upon affirmance of a conviction by a court of limited jurisdiction, a defendant in a criminal case shall be liable for a fee of two hundred dollars.
     (i) With the exception of demands for jury hereafter made and garnishments hereafter issued, civil actions and probate proceedings filed prior to midnight, July 1, 1972, shall be completed and governed by the fee schedule in effect as of January 1, 1972: PROVIDED, That no fee shall be assessed if an order of dismissal on the clerk's record be filed as provided by rule of the supreme court.
     (3) No fee shall be collected when a petition for relinquishment of parental rights is filed pursuant to RCW 26.33.080 or for forms and instructional brochures provided under RCW 26.50.030.
     (4) No fee shall be collected when an abstract of judgment is filed by the county clerk of another county for the purposes of collection of legal financial obligations.
     (5) Until July 1, 2011, in addition to the fees required by this section, clerks of superior courts shall collect the surcharges required by this subsection, which shall be remitted to the state treasurer for deposit in the judicial stabilization trust account:
     (a) On filing fees under subsection (2)(b) of this section, a surcharge of twenty dollars; and
     (b) On all other filing fees required by this section except for filing fees in subsection (2)(d) and (h) of this section, a surcharge of thirty dollars.
     (6) In addition to other fees required by this section, until July 1, 2015, clerks of superior courts shall collect an additional surcharge of ten dollars on filing fees under subsection (2)(a) of this section, which shall be remitted to the state treasurer for deposit in the local government liability reimbursement account created in section 6 of this act.

Sec. 9   RCW 46.63.110 and 2009 c 479 s 39 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) A person found to have committed a traffic infraction shall be assessed a monetary penalty. No penalty may exceed two hundred and fifty dollars for each offense unless authorized by this chapter or title.
     (2) The monetary penalty for a violation of (a) RCW 46.55.105(2) is two hundred fifty dollars for each offense; (b) RCW 46.61.210(1) is five hundred dollars for each offense. No penalty assessed under this subsection (2) may be reduced.
     (3) The supreme court shall prescribe by rule a schedule of monetary penalties for designated traffic infractions. This rule shall also specify the conditions under which local courts may exercise discretion in assessing fines and penalties for traffic infractions. The legislature respectfully requests the supreme court to adjust this schedule every two years for inflation.
     (4) There shall be a penalty of twenty-five dollars for failure to respond to a notice of traffic infraction except where the infraction relates to parking as defined by local law, ordinance, regulation, or resolution or failure to pay a monetary penalty imposed pursuant to this chapter. A local legislative body may set a monetary penalty not to exceed twenty-five dollars for failure to respond to a notice of traffic infraction relating to parking as defined by local law, ordinance, regulation, or resolution. The local court, whether a municipal, police, or district court, shall impose the monetary penalty set by the local legislative body.
     (5) Monetary penalties provided for in chapter 46.70 RCW which are civil in nature and penalties which may be assessed for violations of chapter 46.44 RCW relating to size, weight, and load of motor vehicles are not subject to the limitation on the amount of monetary penalties which may be imposed pursuant to this chapter.
     (6) Whenever a monetary penalty, fee, cost, assessment, or other monetary obligation is imposed by a court under this chapter it is immediately payable. If the court determines, in its discretion, that a person is not able to pay a monetary obligation in full, and not more than one year has passed since the later of July 1, 2005, or the date the monetary obligation initially became due and payable, the court shall enter into a payment plan with the person, unless the person has previously been granted a payment plan with respect to the same monetary obligation, or unless the person is in noncompliance of any existing or prior payment plan, in which case the court may, at its discretion, implement a payment plan. If the court has notified the department that the person has failed to pay or comply and the person has subsequently entered into a payment plan and made an initial payment, the court shall notify the department that the infraction has been adjudicated, and the department shall rescind any suspension of the person's driver's license or driver's privilege based on failure to respond to that infraction. "Payment plan," as used in this section, means a plan that requires reasonable payments based on the financial ability of the person to pay. The person may voluntarily pay an amount at any time in addition to the payments required under the payment plan.
     (a) If a payment required to be made under the payment plan is delinquent or the person fails to complete a community restitution program on or before the time established under the payment plan, unless the court determines good cause therefor and adjusts the payment plan or the community restitution plan accordingly, the court shall notify the department of the person's failure to meet the conditions of the plan, and the department shall suspend the person's driver's license or driving privilege until all monetary obligations, including those imposed under subsections (3) and (4) of this section, have been paid, and court authorized community restitution has been completed, or until the department has been notified that the court has entered into a new time payment or community restitution agreement with the person.
     (b) If a person has not entered into a payment plan with the court and has not paid the monetary obligation in full on or before the time established for payment, the court shall notify the department of the delinquency. The department shall suspend the person's driver's license or driving privilege until all monetary obligations have been paid, including those imposed under subsections (3) and (4) of this section, or until the person has entered into a payment plan under this section.
     (c) If the payment plan is to be administered by the court, the court may assess the person a reasonable administrative fee to be wholly retained by the city or county with jurisdiction. The administrative fee shall not exceed ten dollars per infraction or twenty-five dollars per payment plan, whichever is less.
     (d) Nothing in this section precludes a court from contracting with outside entities to administer its payment plan system. When outside entities are used for the administration of a payment plan, the court may assess the person a reasonable fee for such administrative services, which fee may be calculated on a periodic, percentage, or other basis.
     (e) If a court authorized community restitution program for offenders is available in the jurisdiction, the court may allow conversion of all or part of the monetary obligations due under this section to court authorized community restitution in lieu of time payments if the person is unable to make reasonable time payments.
     (7) In addition to any other penalties imposed under this section and not subject to the limitation of subsection (1) of this section, a person found to have committed a traffic infraction shall be assessed:
     (a) A fee of five dollars per infraction. Under no circumstances shall this fee be reduced or waived. Revenue from this fee shall be forwarded to the state treasurer for deposit in the emergency medical services and trauma care system trust account under RCW 70.168.040;
     (b) A fee of ten dollars per infraction. Under no circumstances shall this fee be reduced or waived. Revenue from this fee shall be forwarded to the state treasurer for deposit in the Washington auto theft prevention authority account; and
     (c) A fee of two dollars per infraction. Revenue from this fee shall be forwarded to the state treasurer for deposit in the traumatic brain injury account established in RCW 74.31.060.
     (8)(a) In addition to any other penalties imposed under this section and not subject to the limitation of subsection (1) of this section, a person found to have committed a traffic infraction other than of RCW 46.61.527 shall be assessed an additional penalty of twenty dollars. The court may not reduce, waive, or suspend the additional penalty unless the court finds the offender to be indigent. If a court authorized community restitution program for offenders is available in the jurisdiction, the court shall allow offenders to offset all or a part of the penalty due under this subsection (8) by participation in the court authorized community restitution program.
     (b) Eight dollars and fifty cents of the additional penalty under (a) of this subsection shall be remitted to the state treasurer. The remaining revenue from the additional penalty must be remitted under chapters 2.08, 3.46, 3.50, 3.62, 10.82, and 35.20 RCW. Money remitted under this subsection to the state treasurer must be deposited in the state general fund. The balance of the revenue received by the county or city treasurer under this subsection must be deposited into the county or city current expense fund. Moneys retained by the city or county under this subsection shall constitute reimbursement for any liabilities under RCW 43.135.060.
     (9) Until July 1, 2015, in addition to any other penalties imposed under this section, and not subject to the limitation of subsection (1) of this section, a person found to have committed a traffic infraction shall be assessed an additional penalty of five dollars. Revenue from this penalty shall be remitted to the state treasurer for deposit in the local government liability reimbursement account created in section 6 of this act.
     (10)
If a legal proceeding, such as garnishment, has commenced to collect any delinquent amount owed by the person for any penalty imposed by the court under this section, the court may, at its discretion, enter into a payment plan.
     (((10))) (11) The monetary penalty for violating RCW 46.37.395 is: (a) Two hundred fifty dollars for the first violation; (b) five hundred dollars for the second violation; and (c) seven hundred fifty dollars for each violation thereafter.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 10   On July 1, 2010, the state treasurer shall transfer the sum of five million dollars from the liability account established in RCW 4.92.130 into the local government liability reimbursement account created in section 6 of this act.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 11   This act applies to all causes of action filed on or after July 1, 2011.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 12   (1) On December 1, 2011, and every December 1st thereafter, the risk management division within the office of financial management shall report to the house of representatives ways and means committee, the house of representatives judiciary committee, the senate ways and means committee, and the senate government operations and elections committee, or successor committees, on the incidents covered by this act that involve state agencies.
     (2) On December 1, 2011, and every December 1st thereafter, each local government risk pool or local government risk management division, or the equivalent in local governments, shall report to the legislative body of the local government on the incidents covered by this act that involve the local government.
     (3) This section expires December 2, 2016.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 13   If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected."

     Correct the title.

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