Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1109 as Recommended by Public Safety - as passed by the Legislature

Source

Section 1

This section modifies existing section 5.70.005. Here is the modified chapter for context.

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

  1. "Amplified DNA" means DNA generated during scientific analysis using a polymerase chain reaction.

  2. "Association" means the Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs.

  3. "DNA work product" means (a) product generated during the process of scientific analysis of such material, except amplified DNA, material that had been subjected to DNA extraction, screening by-products, and DNA extracts from reference samples; or (b) any material contained on a microscope slide, swab, in a sample tube, cutting, DNA extract, or some other similar retention method used to isolate potential biological evidence that has been collected by law enforcement or a forensic nurse as part of an investigation and prepared for scientific analysis, whether or not it is submitted for scientific analysis and derived from:

     i. The contents of a sexual assault examination kit;
    
     ii. Blood;
    
     iii. Semen;
    
     iv. Hair;
    
    1. Saliva;
    1. Skin tissue;

    2. Fingerprints;

    3. Bones;

     ix. Teeth; or
    
    1. Any other identifiable human biological material or physical evidence.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, "DNA work product" does not include a reference sample collected unless it has been shown through DNA comparison to associate the source of the sample with the criminal case for which it was collected.

  1. "Governmental entity" means any general law enforcement agency or any person or organization officially acting on behalf of the state or any political subdivision of the state involved in the collection, examination, tracking, packaging, storing, or disposition of biological material collected in connection with a criminal investigation relating to a felony offense.

  2. "Investigational status" means:

    1. The agency case or incident number;

    2. The date the request for forensic examination of the sexual assault kit was submitted to the Washington state patrol crime laboratory;

    3. The date the forensic examination was complete and reported to the law enforcement agency;

    4. Whether the case is open or closed;

    5. Whether the case was reopened as a result of the hit in the combined DNA index system;

    6. For open cases, whether the case remains:

      1. An active investigation;

      2. Open pending forensic examination results; or

      3. Open and inactive, in which case the agency must include a brief description as to why the case is inactive; and

    7. For closed cases, whether the case was closed as a result****of:

      1. A referral for prosecution where charges were filed or the prosecutor is reviewing the case;

      2. A referral for prosecution where the prosecutor declined to file charges based on the case being legally insufficient;

      3. A referral for prosecution where the prosecutor declined to file charges because the case failed to meet prosecutorial charging standards;

      4. After reviewing the results of the forensic examination, there was no evidence that a crime occurred, or there was lack of probable cause that a crime occurred;

    8. The inability to locate the victim or lack of victim participation; or

    1. Any other reason, in which case the agency must include a brief description as to why the case closed.
  3. "Reference sample" means a known sample collected from an individual by a governmental entity for the purpose of comparison to DNA profiles developed in a criminal case.

  4. "Screening by-product" means a product or waste generated during examination of DNA evidence, or the screening process of such evidence, that is not intended for long-term storage.

  5. "Sexual assault kit" includes all evidence collected during a sexual assault medical forensic examination.

  6. "Unreported sexual assault kit" means a sexual assault kit where a law enforcement agency has not received a related report or complaint alleging a sexual assault or other crime has occurred.

Section 2

This section adds a new section to an existing chapter 5.70. Here is the modified chapter for context.

  1. For any sexual assault kit under RCW 5.70.050 where forensic analysis has generated a profile that has resulted in a hit in the combined DNA index system, the office of the attorney general shall request information from the applicable law enforcement agency and prosecuting attorney as to the case status of any related criminal investigation and prosecution, including information as provided under RCW 5.70.005(5) as well as any other relevant information. The law enforcement agency and prosecuting attorney shall provide requested case status updates to the office of the attorney general. The office of the attorney general shall consult with the association when developing any procedures for requesting and collecting case status updates under this section.

  2. Nothing in this section may be interpreted to require any law enforcement agency or prosecuting attorney to disclose any information that would jeopardize an active criminal investigation or prosecution.

  3. The attorney general's office shall report quarterly to the association the investigational status of any sexual assault kit under RCW 5.70.050.

  4. Beginning in 2022, in consultation with the attorney general's office, the association must submit reports on the information collected pursuant to this section to the governor and appropriate committees of the legislature by January 1st and July 1st of each year.

Section 3

This section modifies existing section 43.101.278. Here is the modified chapter for context.

  1. Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the commission shall conduct an annual case review program. The program must review case files from law enforcement agencies and prosecuting attorneys selected by the commission in order to identify changes to training and investigatory practices necessary to optimize outcomes in sexual assault investigations and prosecutions involving adult victims. The program must include:

    1. An evaluation of whether current training and practices foster a trauma-informed, victim-centered approach to victim interviews and that identifies best practices and current gaps in training and assesses the integration of the community resiliency model**;**

    2. A comparison of cases involving investigators and interviewers who have participated in training to cases involving investigators and interviewers who have not participated in training**;**

    3. Randomly selected cases for a systematic review to assess whether current practices conform to national best practices for a multidisciplinary approach to investigating sexual assault cases and interacting with survivors**; and**

    4. An analysis of the impact that race and ethnicity have on sexual assault case outcomes.

  2. The case review program may review and access files, including all reports and recordings, pertaining to closed cases involving allegations of adult sexual assault only. Any law enforcement agency or prosecuting attorney selected for the program by the commission shall make requested case files and other documents available to the commission, provided that the case files are not linked to ongoing, open investigations and that redactions may be made where appropriate and necessary. Agencies and prosecuting attorneys shall include available information on the race and ethnicity of all sexual assault victims in the relevant case files provided to the commission. Case files and other documents must be made available to the commission according to appropriate deadlines established by the commission in consultation with the agency or prosecuting attorney.

  3. If a law enforcement agency has not participated in the training under RCW 43.101.272 by July 1, 2022, the commission may prioritize the agency for selection to participate in the program under this section.

  4. In designing and conducting the program, the commission shall consult and collaborate with experts in trauma-informed and victim-centered training, experts in sexual assault investigations and prosecutions, victim advocates, and other stakeholders identified by the commission. The commission may form a multidisciplinary working group for the purpose of carrying out the requirements of this section.

  5. The commission shall submit a report with a summary of its work to the governor and the appropriate committees of the legislature by December 1st of each year.

Section 4

This section modifies existing section 70.125.110. Here is the modified chapter for context.

  1. In addition to all other rights provided in law, a sexual assault survivor has the right to:

    1. Receive a medical forensic examination at no cost;

    2. Receive written notice of the right under (a) of this subsection and that he or she may be eligible for other benefits under the crime victim compensation program, through a form developed by the office of crime victims advocacy, from the medical facility providing the survivor medical treatment relating to the sexual assault;

    3. Receive a referral to an accredited community sexual assault program or, in the case of a survivor who is a minor, receive a connection to services in accordance with the county child sexual abuse investigation protocol under RCW 26.44.180, which may include a referral to a children's advocacy center, when presenting at a medical facility for medical treatment relating to the assault and also when reporting the assault to a law enforcement officer;

    4. Consult with a sexual assault survivor's advocate throughout the investigatory process and prosecution of the survivor's case, including during : Any medical evidentiary examination at a medical facility; any interview by law enforcement officers, prosecuting attorneys, or defense attorneys**;** and court proceedings, except while providing testimony in a criminal trial, in which case the advocate may be present in the courtroom. Medical facilities, law enforcement officers, prosecuting attorneys, defense attorneys, courts and other applicable criminal justice agencies, including correctional facilities, are responsible for providing advocates access to facilities where necessary to fulfill the requirements under this subsection. The right in this subsection applies regardless of whether a survivor has waived the right in a previous examination or interview;

    5. Be informed, upon the request of a survivor, of when the forensic analysis of his or her sexual assault kit and other related physical evidence will be or was completed, the results of the forensic analysis, and whether the analysis yielded a DNA profile and match, provided that the disclosure is made at an appropriate time so as to not impede or compromise an ongoing investigation;

    6. Receive notice prior to the destruction or disposal of his or her sexual assault kit;

    7. Receive a copy of the police report related to the investigation without charge;

    8. Review his or her statement before law enforcement refers a case to the prosecuting attorney**;**

    9. Receive timely notifications from the law enforcement agency and prosecuting attorney as to the status of the investigation and any related prosecution of the survivor's case;

    10. Be informed by the law enforcement agency and prosecuting attorney as to the expected and appropriate time frames for receiving responses to the survivor's inquiries regarding the status of the investigation and any related prosecution of the survivor's case; and further, receive responses to the survivor's inquiries in a manner consistent with those time frames;

    11. Access interpreter services where necessary to facilitate communication throughout the investigatory process and prosecution of the survivor's case; and

    12. Where the sexual assault survivor is a minor, have:

      1. The prosecutor consider and discuss the survivor's requests for remote video testimony under RCW 9A.44.150 when appropriate; and

      2. The court consider requests from the prosecutor for safeguarding the survivor's feelings of security and safety in the courtroom in order to facilitate the survivor's testimony and participation in the criminal justice process.

  2. A sexual assault survivor retains all the rights of this section regardless of whether the survivor agrees to participate in the criminal justice system and regardless of whether the survivor agrees to receive a forensic examination to collect evidence.

  3. If a survivor is denied any right enumerated in subsection (1) of this section, he or she may seek an order directing compliance by the relevant party or parties by filing a petition in the superior court in the county in which the sexual assault occurred and providing notice of such petition to the relevant party or parties. Compliance with the right is the sole remedy available to the survivor. The court shall expedite consideration of a petition filed under this subsection.

  4. Nothing contained in this section may be construed to provide grounds for error in favor of a criminal defendant in a criminal proceeding. Except in the circumstances as provided in subsection (3) of this section, this section does not grant a new cause of action or remedy against the state, its political subdivisions, law enforcement agencies, or prosecuting attorneys. The failure of a person to make a reasonable effort to protect or adhere to the rights enumerated in this section may not result in civil liability against that person. This section does not limit other civil remedies or defenses of the sexual assault survivor or the offender.

  5. For the purposes of this section:

    1. "Law enforcement officer" means a general authority Washington peace officer, as defined in RCW 10.93.020, or any person employed by a private police agency at a public school as described in RCW 28A.150.010 or an institution of higher education, as defined in RCW 28B.10.016.

    2. "Sexual assault survivor" means any person who is a victim, as defined in RCW 7.69.020, of sexual assault. However, if a victim is incapacitated, deceased, or a minor, sexual assault survivor also includes any lawful representative of the victim, including a parent, guardian, spouse, or other designated representative, unless the person is an alleged perpetrator or suspect.

    3. "Sexual assault survivor's advocate" means any person who is defined in RCW 5.60.060 as a sexual assault advocate, or a crime victim advocate.


Created by @tannewt. Contribute on GitHub.