2ESSB 6508 -
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) The 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) Parents((, 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.