SSB 5308

Brief Description: Establishing the commercially sexually exploited children statewide coordinating committee.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Human Services & Corrections (originally sponsored by Senators Kohl-Welles, Carrell, Darneille, Padden, Kline, Hargrove, Fraser, Chase, Keiser, Conway, Cleveland and Tom).

Hearing Date: 3/12/13

Staff: Sarah Koster (786-7303).

Background:

A person commits the offense of Commercial Sexual Abuse of a Minor when:

1. he or she pays a fee to a minor as compensation for a minor having engaged in sexual conduct with him or her;

2. he or she pays or agrees to pay a fee to a minor or third party pursuant to an understanding that in return therefore such minor will engage in sexual conduct with him or her; or

3. he or she solicits, offers of requests to engaged in sexual conduct with a minor in return for a fee.

Other offenses related to the Commercial Sexual Abuse of a Minor include Promoting Commercial Sexual Abuse of a Minor, Promoting Travel for Commercial Sexual Abuse of a Minor, and Permitting Commercial Sexual Abuse of a Minor.

In 2010 the Center for Children and Youth Justice received a two-year grant from the Children's Justice Interdisciplinary Task Force to develop a Washington State Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking Protocol (Protocol) for responding to cases of commercially sexually exploited children. In developing the Protocol, the Center for Children and Youth Justice sought input from key stakeholders around the states. The Protocol which was developed as a result recommended, in addition to local teams and task forces, a statewide coordinating committee, consisting of statewide decision-makers, which would convene annually to receive reports from local task forces on the incidence of commercially sexually exploited children in their area, on local coordinated community response practices and results, and their recommendations for policy and/or legislative changes that would improve the efficiency and effectiveness of local activities.

Summary of Bill:

The Commercially Sexually Exploited Children Statewide Coordinating Committee (Committee) is established to address the issue of children who are commercially sexually exploited, examine the practices of local and regional entities involved in addressing sexually exploited children, and make recommendations on statewide laws and practices.

The Committee is called to order by the Governor's office. The Committee members include representatives of:

• each caucus in the House of Representatives and Senate;

• the Office of the Governor;

• the Children's Administration;

• the Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration;

• the Office of the Attorney General;

• the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction;

• the Administrative Office of the Courts;

• the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs;

• the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission;

• the Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys;

• the Office of Public Defense;

• three community service providers that provide direct services to commercially sexually exploited children (appointed by the Governor);

• two nongovernmental organizations familiar with the issues affecting commercially sexually exploited children (appointed by the Governor);

• the Superior Court Judges' Association;

• the Washington Association of Juvenile Court Administrators;

• any existing chairs of regional task forces on commercially sexually exploited children;

• the criminal defense bar;

• the Office of Crime Victims Advocacy; and

• the Washington Coalition of Sexual Assault programs.

The duties of the Committee include, but are not limited to, receiving reports and data from local and regional entities regarding the incidence of commercially sexually exploited children in their areas; reviewing recommendations from local and regional entities regarding policy changes that would improve the effectiveness of local response practices; and making recommendations regarding data collection and strategic local investments to address the commercial sexual exploitation of children.

The Committee must meet no less than annually.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.