Crime victims ombuds

AN ACT Relating to establishing an office of the crime victims 1
ombuds; adding a new chapter to Title 43 RCW; and providing an 2
expiration date. 3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) The office of the crime victims ombuds 5
is created. The department of commerce shall contract with a private, 6
independent nonprofit organization to provide crime victims ombuds 7
services. The department of commerce shall designate, by a 8
competitive bidding process, the nonprofit organization that will 9
contract to operate the ombuds. The selection process must include 10
consultation of stakeholders in the development of the request for 11
proposals and evaluation of bids. The selected organization must have 12
experience and the capacity to effectively communicate regarding 13
crime victims' issues with policymakers, stakeholders, and the 14
general public and must be prepared and able to provide all program 15
and staff support necessary, directly or through subcontracts, to 16
carry out all duties of the office.17
(2) The contracting organization and its subcontractors, if any, 18
are not state agencies or departments, but instead are private, 19
independent entities operating under contract with the state.20
H-1232.1
HOUSE BILL 1945
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Representatives Graham, Walsh, Griffey, Jacobsen, Burnett,
Caldier, and Chase
Read first time 02/11/25. Referred to Committee on Community Safety.
p. 1 HB 1945
(3) The governor or state may not revoke the designation of the 1
organization contracted to provide the services of the ombuds except 2
upon a showing of neglect of duty, misconduct, or inability to 3
perform duties. In the event that the designation is revoked, the 4
department of commerce shall contract with another private, 5
independent nonprofit organization to provide crime victims ombuds 6
services. 7
(4) The department of commerce shall ensure that the ombuds staff 8
has access to sufficient training or experience with issues relating 9
to crime victims and the program and staff support necessary to 10
enable the ombuds to effectively protect the interests of crime 11
victims. The office of the crime victims ombuds shall have the powers 12
and duties to do the following: 13
(a) Provide information as appropriate on the rights of persons 14
receiving crime victims' services, and on the procedures for 15
providing these services; 16
(b) Refer crime victims to the appropriate element of the 17
criminal and juvenile justice systems or victim assistance programs, 18
or both, when services are requested by crime victims or are 19
necessary as determined by the ombuds; 20
(c) Investigate, upon its own initiative or upon receipt of a 21
complaint, acts related to a crime victim alleged to be contrary to 22
the criminal and juvenile justice systems or victim assistance 23
programs, however, the ombuds may decline to investigate any 24
complaint, but must give a reason in writing; 25
(d) Monitor the procedures as established, implemented, and 26
practiced by the department to carry out its responsibilities in the 27
delivery of services to crime victims; 28
(e) Recommend changes in the procedures for addressing the needs 29
of crime victims; 30
(f) Establish procedures to protect the confidentiality of 31
records and sensitive information to ensure that the identity of any 32
complainant or crime victim will not be disclosed without the written 33
consent of the complainant or crime victim, or upon court order;34
(g) Maintain independence and authority within the bounds of the 35
duties prescribed by this chapter, insofar as this independence and 36
authority is exercised in good faith and within the scope of 37
contract; and 38
(h) Carry out such other activities as determined by the 39
department of commerce within the scope of this chapter.40
p. 2 HB 1945
(5) For the purposes of this section, "crime" and "victim" have 1
the same meaning as in chapter 7.69 RCW. 2
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. (1) The department of commerce's office of 3
crime victims advocacy shall conduct a survey and analysis of the 4
appropriate placement outside of state government of the office of 5
the crime victims ombuds. The survey required shall ascertain how the 6
contracted placement of the office will most effectively allow it to 7
meet its responsibilities under this chapter. The survey shall 8
include, but is not limited to, a complete assessment of how 9
independently contracting the program outside state government will 10
provide the office with an effective means for resolving complaints 11
and building program accountability.12
(2) In completing the analysis, the office of crime victims 13
advocacy shall survey existing crime victim advocacy and service 14
provider agencies regarding how best to increase awareness of the 15
needs of crime victims and better coordinate delivery services. The 16
survey shall further examine whether the established rights of 17
victims, survivors, and witnesses of crimes have led to consistent 18
advocacy on behalf of crime victims within state government.19
(3) A draft of the findings shall be submitted to the governor 20
and the legislature by November 30, 2026, and the final findings, 21
conclusions, and recommendations shall be submitted in a report to 22
the governor and the legislature no later than December 30, 2026.23
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. The provisions of this chapter are in 24
addition to and do not in any manner limit or affect any other 25
provisions of law under which any remedy or right of appeal is 26
provided for any person, or any procedure is provided for the inquiry 27
into or investigation of any matter. The powers conferred on the 28
office of the crime victims ombuds may be exercised notwithstanding 29
any provision of law to the effect that any administrative action 30
shall be final or unappealable.31
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. This chapter expires July 1, 2027.32
NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. Sections 1 through 4 of this act 33
constitute a new chapter in Title 43 RCW.34
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p. 3 HB 1945