BILL REQ. #:  S-4535.2 

Read first time 01/24/2006.   Referred to Committee on Judiciary.

     AN ACT Relating to domestic violence; creating new sections; and providing an expiration date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   It is the intent of the legislature to study the advisability of providing to all recipients of protection orders, who are victims of domestic violence, wallet-size cards that would provide to law enforcement all information necessary to enforce the protection order.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   (1) The domestic violence hope card study committee is established to review the advisability of providing wallet-size cards bearing information regarding protection orders to victims of domestic violence within Washington state. The committee shall be composed of:
     (a) Two senators, one from each caucus in the senate;
     (b) Two representatives, one from each caucus in the house of representatives;
     (c) One representative of the Washington state attorney general's office;
     (d) One police chief appointed by the Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs;
     (e) One elected sheriff appointed by the Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs;
     (f) One representative of the Washington state patrol;
     (g) One representative of the administrative office of the courts;
     (h) One representative of a tribal government appointed by the governor;
     (i) One representative of the Washington association of criminal defense lawyers; and
     (j) One representative of a statewide domestic violence advocacy group appointed by the governor.
     (2) The committee shall review and analyze hope card programs operating in Washington state and other states. Specifically, the committee shall review:
     (a) The practicality of requiring the statewide distribution of wallet-size cards to victims of domestic violence that document the existence of a protection order and provide identifying information regarding the respondent, including a photograph, and contents of a protection order in addition to contact information for the victim to utilize the court system, gain access to domestic violence services, and contact law enforcement;
     (b) The information required to be provided to victims of domestic violence under current law;
     (c) Whether victims of domestic violence are receiving this information;
     (d) Whether any additional information should be included on the cards provided to domestic violence victims;
     (e) Costs, administrative, and capital equipment issues involved with the implementation of such a program;
     (f) How such a program could be implemented statewide; and
     (g) Any other issues the committee finds relevant to the distribution of hope cards to victims of domestic violence.
     (3) Staff support shall be provided by senate committee services and the office of program research.
     (4) Legislative members of the study committee shall be reimbursed for travel expenses in accordance with RCW 44.04.120. Nonlegislative members, except those representing an employer or organization, are entitled to be reimbursed for travel expenses in accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.
     (5) A committee report, containing findings and proposed legislation, if any, shall be delivered to the full legislature, not later than December 31, 2006.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   This act expires June 30, 2007.