H-1602              _______________________________________________

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 1097

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1985 Regular Session

By Representatives L. Smith, Bond, Dobbs, J.  Williams, Sanders and Isaacson

Read first time 2/8/85 and referred to Committee on Judiciary.

AN ACT Relating to self defense; and amending RCW 9.01.200.

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

        Sec. 1.  Section 8, chapter 206, Laws of 1977 ex. sess. and RCW 9.01.200 are each amended to read as follows:

          No person in the state shall be placed in legal jeopardy of any kind whatsoever including but not limited to a civil suit for damages for protecting by any reasonable means necessary, himself, his family, or his real or personal property, or for coming to the aid of another who is in imminent danger of or the victim of aggravated assault, armed robbery, holdup, rape, murder, or any other heinous crime.  The provisions of this section shall apply regardless of whether there is a conviction for the underlying criminal action.

          When a substantial question of self defense in such a case shall exist which needs legal investigation or court action for the full determination of the facts, and the defendant's actions are subsequently found justified under the intent of this section, the state of Washington shall indemnify or reimburse such defendant for all loss of time, legal fees, or other expenses involved in his defense.