Crime victim services

AN ACT Relating to victims of crime act funding; adding a new 1
section to chapter 7.68 RCW; and creating a new section.2
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:3
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) The legislature finds that:4
(a) The continuity and sustainability of victim services programs 5
are essential to public safety; 6
(b) Federal victims of crime act funding is the most significant 7
resource for crime victim services in Washington state, funding 8
programs in every county and for every type of harm;9
(c) The fluctuations of federal funding levels strain the 10
infrastructure needed to equitably resource victim services; and11
(d) The consequences of unstable and insufficient funding has 12
immediate impacts on the lives and safety of crime victims, families, 13
and communities. 14
(2) Washington state commits to providing for the continuity of 15
victim services programs to ensure trauma-informed, culturally 16
relevant, accessible, and high-quality services for victims of crime.17
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 7.68 RCW 18
to read as follows: 19
H-0607.1
HOUSE BILL 1487
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Representatives Davis, Couture, Taylor, Nance, Salahuddin, Scott,
Pollet, and Simmons
Read first time 01/21/25. Referred to Committee on Appropriations.
p. 1 HB 1487
(1) In each fiscal year, the legislature shall include in the 1
annual budget bill an appropriation that, together with the amount 2
received under the federal victims of crime act in the prior year, 3
totals: 4
(a) An aggregate $50,000,000 annually for the 2025-2027 and 5
2027-2029 biennia; 6
(b) An aggregate $60,000,000 annually for the 2029–2031 and 2031–7
2033 biennia; 8
(c) An aggregate $70,000,000 annually for the 2033–2035 biennium 9
and thereafter. 10
(2) After reaching an aggregate of $70,000,000, the office of 11
crime victims advocacy shall submit a report to the legislature with 12
data on crime victim services and recommendations for future 13
aggregate funding levels every five years, with a preliminary report 14
due December 15, 2039. 15
(3) The office of crime victims advocacy shall support programs 16
providing services for victims of crime throughout the state and 17
ensure that state funds awarded under this section:18
(a) Are administered in a unified process with federal victims of 19
crime act funds and the victims of crime act state plan, with 20
separate reporting as necessary to comply with federal and state 21
regulations; 22
(b) Shall be used to supplement, but not supplant, funding that 23
the programs receive from other sources; 24
(c) May be used as a match for federal victims of crime act 25
funds; and 26
(d) May not be used for capital projects. 27
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p. 2 HB 1487