DEFINITION OF 'VICTIM COUNSELING CENTER'

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Defining Victim Counseling Centers

This act changes how 'victim counseling center' is defined to protect communications about sexual assault and domestic violence.

What This Bill Does

• Changes the definition of a 'victim counseling center'.
• Includes private organizations, military groups, or local/tribal government agencies that help victims of sexual assault or domestic violence.
• Excludes centers linked with law enforcement or prosecutors' offices.
• Ensures the new definition applies to all communications and offenses before and after the act's effective date.

Who It Names or Affects

• Victims of sexual assault or domestic violence who use counseling services.
• Counseling centers that help victims of these crimes.
• Law enforcement agencies and prosecutors' offices.

Terms To Know

victim counseling center

A place where people can get help after being hurt by sexual assault or domestic violence, without talking to police or lawyers.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify when it will take effect.
• It only changes the definition and does not create new counseling centers.

Official Summary Text

DEFINITION OF 'VICTIM COUNSELING CENTER'
An Act relating to the definition of 'victim counseling center' for disclosure of certain communications concerning sexual assault or domestic violence.

Current Bill Text

HB0384a -1- HB 384
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

34-LS1617\N

HOUSE BILL NO. 384

IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA

THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE - SECOND SESSION

BY THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

Introduced: 4/8/26
Referred: House Special Committee on Tribal Affairs, Judiciary

A BILL

FOR AN ACT ENTITLED

"An Act relating to the definition of 'victim counseling center' for disclosure of certain 1
communications concerning sexual assault or domestic violence." 2
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 3
* Section 1. AS 18.66.250(5) is amended to read: 4
(5) "victim counseling center" means a private organization, an 5
organization operated by or contracted by a branch of the armed forces of the United 6
States, or a local or tribal government agency that 7
(A) has, as one of its primary purposes, the provision of direct 8
services to victims for trauma resulting from a sexual assault or domestic 9
violence; 10
(B) is not affiliated with a law enforcement agency or a 11
prosecutor's office; and 12
(C) is not on contract with the state to provide services under 13
AS 47; 14
34-LS1617\N
HB 384 -2- HB0384a
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

* Sec. 2. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 1
read: 2
APPLICABILITY. AS 18.66.250(5), as amended by sec. 1 of this Act, applies to 3
communications made before, on, or after the effective date of this Act for offenses 4
committed before, on, or after the effective date of this Act. 5