43.280.011 - Intent, approval of committee recommendations, distribution of services--1996 c 123. - Washington Statutes

Intent, approval of committee recommendations, distribution of services — 1996 c 123.

The Washington state sexual assault services advisory committee issued a report to the *department of community, trade, and economic development and the department of social and health services in June of 1995. The committee made several recommendations to improve the delivery of services to victims of sexual abuse and assault: (1) Consolidate the administration and funding of sexual assault and abuse services in one agency instead of splitting those functions between the department of social and health services and the *department of community, trade, and economic development; (2) adopt a funding allocation plan to pool all funds for sexual assault services and to distribute them across the state to ensure the delivery of core and specialized services; (3) establish service, data collection, and management standards and outcome measurements for recipients of grants; and (4) create a data collection system to gather pertinent data concerning the delivery of sexual assault services to victims.

     The legislature approves the recommendations of the advisory committee and consolidates the functions and funding for sexual assault services in the *department of community, trade, and economic development to implement the advisory committee's recommendations.

     The legislature does not intend to effect a reduction in service levels within available funding by transferring department of social and health services' powers and duties to the *department of community, trade, and economic development. At a minimum, the *department of community, trade, and economic development shall distribute the same percentage of the services it provides victims of sexual assault and abuse, pursuant to RCW 43.280.020, 70.125.080, and 74.14B.060, to children as were distributed to children through these programs in fiscal year 1996.

[1996 c 123 § 1.]

Notes: *Reviser's note: The "department of community, trade, and economic development" was renamed the "department of commerce" by 2009 c 565.

Effective date -- 1996 c 123: See note following RCW 43.280.010.