FINAL BILL REPORT

                  HB 1858

                         C 241 L 95

                     Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Establishing the office of crime victims advocacy in the department of community, trade, and economic development.

Sponsors:  Representatives Ballasiotes, Costa, Robertson, Cody, Morris, Regala, Chopp, Ogden, Mitchell, Tokuda, Appelwick, Honeyford, Radcliff, Blanton, Dickerson, Campbell, Conway, Kessler and Ebersole.

House Committee on Government Operations

Senate Committee on Government Operations

Background:  The Office of Crime Victims Advocacy was created by executive order in 1990 and placed in the Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development.  The office provides ombudsman service to crime victims by helping them locate and obtain services in their communities.  

The office currently administers a grant program to enhance the funding for community-based treatment services available to victims of sex offenders.

These grants are awarded on a competitive basis to local governments, nonprofit community groups, and nonprofit treatment providers.  Activities that can be funded through this grant program are limited to: (1) activities that provide effective treatment to victims of sex offenders; (2) activities that increase access to and availability of treatment for  victims of sex offenders, particularly underserved populations; and (3) activities that create, coordinate, or build on existing programs to make effective use of resources to provide treatment services to victims of sex offenders.

Summary:  The Office of Crime Victims Advocacy is established by statute in the Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development.  The office is directed to administer grant programs for sexual assault treatment and prevention services, assist communities in planning and implementing services for crime victims, advocate on behalf of crime victims in obtaining needed services and resources, and advise local and state governments on practices, policies, and priorities that impact crime victims.

Votes on Final Passage:

House     97 0

Senate    39 0 (Senate amended)

House     95 0 (House concurred)

Effective:  July 23, 1995