FINAL BILL REPORT

                  HB 2750

                          C 54 L 00

                     Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Including prevention for potential victims of sexual assault as a core treatment service for victims of sexual assault.

Sponsors:  Representatives D. Schmidt, Haigh and Romero; by request of Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development.

House Committee on Children & Family Services

Senate Committee on Human Services & Corrections

Background:

Communities throughout the state must provide appropriate services to sexual assault victims.

Mandated services are divided into two categories:  core services and specialized services. Community sexual assault programs (CSAP) are required to provide all core services.  Core services consist of information and referral, crisis intervention, legal and medical advocacy, general advocacy, and system coordination.  

Providers who have been awarded bids, through a competitive regional bidding process, provide specialized services.  Specialized services include support groups, therapy, medical examinations, and prevention education to potential victims of sexual assault.  These services are provided as each region determines necessary. 

Each region is guaranteed funding for both core and specialized services. Funding from various state sources is pooled and then divided among regions, according to a formula that accounts for individual community needs.   Increased funding will be available to the program through allocations resulting from the federal Violence Against Women Act.

Summary of Bill:

Prevention education is classified as a core required service, instead of as a specialized service.

Votes on Final Passage:

House970

Senate430

Effective:June 8, 2000