The Senate unanimously passed SB 5937 supporting crime victims and witnesses.

Dates to remember

SB 5937 is scheduled for a public hearing in the House Community Safety, Justice, & Reentry committee on February 19 at 1:30 pm and for a vote in the same committee on February 20 at 4 pm.

Legislature looks at better ways to support crime victims and witnesses with new bill

SB 5937, sponsored by Sen. Manka Dhingra (D–Redmond), creates a number of provisions to better support crime victims and witnesses. The bill:

• Makes it easier for victims to be reimbursed for costs associated with forensic examinations.
• Modifies procedures and rights related to crime victims, including expanding the crime of rape in the first degree.
• Removes the statute of limitations for rape committed by first responders who use their position to commit the offense.
• Requires county prosecutors to establish a multidisciplinary team to address adult sexual assault or coordinate with other local jurisdictions to ensure resources for adult victims of sexual assault.
• Creates the statewide forensic nurse coordination program to begin to address the nursing shortage.

While prior versions of the bill contained language that would have added costly requirements to municipal courts, AWC worked with the prime sponsor to amend the bill to ensure that any court requirements are subject to the availability of funds. The Senate Law & Justice Committee passed the substitute version that addressed these concerns, and AWC supports the amended version of SB 5937.