The legislature recognizes the need to increase the services available to the victims of sexual assault. The legislature also recognizes that these services are most effectively planned and provided at the local level through the combined efforts of concerned community and citizens groups, treatment providers, and local government officials. The legislature further recognizes that adequate services for victims is not only a matter of justice for the victim, but also a method by which additional abuse can be prevented.

The legislature intends to enhance the community-based services available to the victims of sexual assault by:

(1) Providing consolidated funding support for local programs which provide services to victims of sexual assault, as defined in RCW 70.125.030;

(2) Providing technical assistance and support to help communities plan for and provide victim services;

(3) Providing sexual assault services with a victim-focused mission, and consistent standards, policies, and granting and reporting requirements; and

(4) Providing communities and local victim service providers with opportunities to share information about successful prevention and treatment programs.

Effective date—1996 c 123: "This act shall take effect July 1, 1996." [ 1996 c 123 § 11.]

The Washington state sexual assault services advisory committee issued a report to the department of commerce 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 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 commerce; (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 commerce to implement the advisory committee's recommendations.

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

(1) The department of commerce is authorized to distribute funds that have been allocated to the grant program that it administers for serving victims of sexual assault.

(2) Activities that can be funded through this grant program are limited to those that:

(a) Provide effective services to victims of sexual assault;

(b) Increase access to and availability of services for victims of sexual assault, particularly if from underserved populations; and

(c) Create or build on efforts by existing community programs, coordinate those efforts, or develop cooperative efforts or other initiatives to make the most effective use of resources to provide treatment services to these victims.

(3) Funding for core, specialized, and underserved populations services, as defined in RCW 70.125.030, must be distributed through a funding formula to those applicants that emphasize providing stable, victim-centered sexual assault services and possess the qualifications to provide those services.

(4) The department of commerce shall ensure that grant recipients assist victims to utilize private insurance and crime victims' compensation benefits first before grant funds are used for therapy services.

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

Local governments, nonprofit community groups, and nonprofit treatment providers including organizations which provide services, such as emergency housing, counseling, and crisis intervention shall, among others, be eligible for grants under the program established in RCW 43.280.020.

(1) At a minimum, grant applications for specialized and underserved services must include the following:

(a) The geographic area from which the victims to be served are expected to come;

(b) A description of the extent and effect of the needs of these victims within the relevant geographic area;

(c) A proposed budget and an explanation of how the funds will be used, their relationship to existing services available within the community, and the need that they will fulfill;

(d) An explanation of what community organizations were involved in the community coordination that resulted in the development of the proposal; and

(e) Documentation of the applicant's capacity to provide specialized services and services for underserved populations, as defined in this chapter, and a description of how the applicant intends to comply with service standards and data collection as established by the department.

(2) At a minimum, grant applications for core services must include the following:

(a) The geographic area from which the victims to be served are expected to come;

(b) Assurance of the applicant's compliance with service standards, data collection, and management standards established by the department; and

(c) Documentation of the applicant's capacity to provide core services, as defined in this chapter.

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

(1) Subject to funds appropriated by the legislature, the department of commerce shall make awards under the grant program established by RCW 43.280.020.

(2) Activities funded under this section may be considered for funding in future years, but shall be considered under the same terms and criteria as new activities. Funding under this chapter shall not constitute an obligation by the state of Washington to provide ongoing funding.

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

The department of commerce may receive such gifts, grants, and endowments from public or private sources as may be made from time to time, in trust or otherwise, for the use and benefit of the purposes of this chapter and expend the same or any income therefrom according to the terms of the gifts, grants, or endowments.

The office of crime victims advocacy is established in the department of commerce. The office shall assist communities in planning and implementing services for crime victims, advocate on behalf of crime victims in obtaining needed services and resources, and advise local and state governments on practices, policies, and priorities that impact crime victims. In addition, the office shall administer grant programs for services to victims of crime and prevention activities as authorized by state or federal legislation, budget, or executive order. The department shall seek, receive, and make use of any funds which may be available from federal or other sources to augment state funds appropriated for the purpose of this section, and shall make every effort to qualify for federal funding.

Office designated as the single point of contact in state government regarding the trafficking of persons: RCW 7.68.370.

The director of the department of commerce may establish ad hoc advisory committees, as necessary, to obtain advice and guidance regarding the office of crime victims advocacy program.

Effective date—Part headings not law—Severability—1995 c 269: See notes following RCW 18.16.050.

(1) The statewide coordinating committee on sex trafficking is established to address the issues of sex trafficking, to examine the practices of local and regional entities involved in addressing sex trafficking, and to develop a statewide plan to address sex trafficking.

(2) The committee is administered by the department of commerce and consists of the following members:

(a) Two members of the house of representatives, one from each caucus, and two members of the senate, one from each caucus, to be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the senate, respectively;

(b) A representative of the Washington attorney general's office;

(c) The president or corporate executive officer of the center for children and youth justice or his or her designee;

(d) The secretary of the children's administration or his or her designee;

(e) The secretary of the juvenile rehabilitation administration or his or her designee;

(f) The superintendent of public instruction or his or her designee;

(g) A representative of the administrative office of the courts appointed by the administrative office of the courts;

(h) The executive director of the Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs or his or her designee;

(i) The executive director of the Washington state criminal justice training commission or his or her designee;

(j) Representatives of community advocacy groups that work to address the issues of human trafficking, to be appointed by the department of commerce's office of crime victims advocacy;

(k) A representative of the Washington association of prosecuting attorneys appointed by the association;

(l) Representatives of community service providers that serve victims of human trafficking, to be appointed by the department of commerce's office of crime victims advocacy;

(m) The executive director of Washington engage or his or her designee;

(n) A representative from shared hope international or his or her designee;

(o) The executive director of the Washington coalition of crime victim advocates or his or her designee;

(p) The executive director of the Washington coalition of sexual assault programs or his or her designee;

(q) The executive director of the Washington state coalition against domestic violence or his or her designee;

(r) The executive director of the Washington association of cities or his or her designee;

(s) The executive director of the Washington association of counties or his or her designee; and

(t) The director or a representative from the crime victims compensation program.

(3) The duties of the committee include, but are not limited to:

(a) Gathering and assessing service practices from diverse sources regarding service demand and delivery;

(b) Analyzing data regarding the implementation of sex trafficking legislation passed in recent years by the legislature, including reports submitted to the department of commerce pursuant to RCW 9.68A.105, 9A.88.120, and 9A.88.140, and assessing the efficacy of such legislation in addressing sex trafficking, as well as any obstacles to the impact of legislation on the commercial sex trade;

(c) Receiving and reviewing reports, recommendations, and statewide protocols as implemented in the pilot sites selected by the center for children and youth justice regarding commercially sexually exploited youth submitted to the committee by organizations that coordinate local community response practices and regional entities concerned with commercially sexually exploited youth; and

(d) Gathering and reviewing existing data, research, and literature to help shape a plan of action to address human trafficking in Washington to include:

(i) Strategies for Washington to undertake to end sex trafficking; and

(ii) Necessary data collection improvements.

(4) The committee shall meet twice and, by December 2014, produce a report on its activities, together with a statewide plan to address sex trafficking in Washington, to the governor's office and the legislature.

(5) All expenses of the committee shall come from the prostitution prevention and intervention account created in RCW 43.63A.740.

(6) The members of the committee shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for travel expenses as provided in RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060, within available resources.

(7) The committee expires June 30, 2015.

Intent—Finding—2013 c 121: "The legislature recognizes there are many state agencies and private organizations that might be called on to provide services to victims of sex trafficking. Victims of human trafficking are often in need of services such as emergency medical attention, food and shelter, vocational and English language training, mental health counseling, and legal support. The state intends to improve the response of state, local, and private entities to incidents of trafficking of humans. Victims would be better served if there is an established, coordinated system of identifying the needs of sex trafficking victims, training of service delivery agencies and staff, timely and appropriate delivery of services, and better investigations and prosecutions of trafficking.

Leadership in providing services to victims of sex trafficking also extends beyond government efforts and is grounded in the work of highly dedicated individuals and community-based groups. Without these efforts the struggle against human trafficking will be very difficult to win. The legislature, therefore, finds that such efforts merit regular public recognition and appreciation. Such recognition and appreciation will encourage the efforts of all persons to end sex trafficking, and provide the public with information and education about the necessity of its involvement in this struggle." [ 2013 c 121 § 1.]

(1) The office of crime victims advocacy shall establish a statewide training program on Washington's human trafficking laws for criminal justice personnel.

(2) The training shall be provided where possible by an entity that has experience in developing coalitions, training, programs, and policy on human trafficking in Washington.

(3) The entity will provide or coordinate training for law enforcement personnel, prosecutors, and court personnel covering Washington's state antitrafficking laws, the investigation of sex trafficking cases, and the adjudication of sex trafficking cases. The training shall encourage interdisciplinary coordination among criminal justice personnel, build cultural competency, and develop understanding of diverse victim populations including children, youth, and adults.

(4) The office shall provide a biennial report to the appropriate policy committees of the legislature on the statewide training program, with a focus on the effectiveness of the training.

Finding—2015 c 101: "The legislature finds that in order to reduce instances of human trafficking in our state there needs to be a cohesive and concerted statewide training program provided to those in the law enforcement and legal community. This training is intended to help promote the use of existing laws to initiate sustainable and viable investigations, prosecutions, and adjudications in all jurisdictions across the state." [ 2015 c 101 § 1.]

(1) The department of commerce shall prepare and submit an annual report to the legislature on the amount of revenue collected by local jurisdictions under RCW 9.68A.105, 9A.88.120, or 9A.88.140 and the expenditure of that revenue.

(2) Any funds remitted to the department of commerce pursuant to RCW 9.68A.105, 9A.88.120, or 9A.88.140 shall be spent on the fulfillment of the duties described in subsection (1) of this section. Any remaining funds may be spent on the administration of grants for services for victims of the commercial sex trade, consistent with this chapter.

Intent—Finding—2013 c 121: See note following RCW 43.280.091.

(1) Every establishment that maintains restrooms for use by the public may voluntarily, upon availability of the model notice as described in subsection (2) of this section, post a notice that complies with the requirements of this section in a conspicuous place within all restrooms of the establishment in clear view of the public and employees. The office of crime victims advocacy may work with businesses and other establishments and with human trafficking victim advocates to adopt policies for the placement of such notices.

(2)(a) The model notice that may be voluntarily posted pursuant to subsection (1) of this section may be in a variety of languages and include toll-free telephone numbers a person may call for assistance, including the number for the national human trafficking resource center and the number for the Washington state office of crime victims advocacy.

(b) The office of crime victims advocacy shall review and approve the initial form and content of the model notice to ensure the notice is appropriate for public display and likely to be an effective communication to reach human trafficking victims. The office of crime victims advocacy shall review the model notice on a yearly basis to ensure the information provided remains accurate.

(3) The cost of production, printing, and posting of the model notices shall be paid by a participating nonprofit at no cost to the state.

(4) The office of crime victims advocacy must provide a report to the appropriate committees of the legislature no later than December 31, 2016, regarding the voluntary participation in this effort.

Effective date—2015 c 273: See note following RCW 7.68.370.

Human trafficking informational posters at rest areas: RCW 47.38.080.

(1) For the purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

(a) "Adult with lived experience of sex trafficking" means any person age 18 or older who was a person who has been forced or coerced to perform a commercial sex act including, but not limited to, being a victim of offenses defined in RCW 9A.40.100, 9A.88.070, 9.68A.101, and the trafficking victims protection act of 2000, 22 U.S.C. Sec. 7101 et seq.; or a person who was induced to perform a commercial sex act when they were less than 18 years of age including but not limited to the offenses defined in chapter 9.68A RCW.

(b) "Healing, support, and transition service provider" means an entity or person that provides healing and transition services that meet the self-determined needs of adults with lived experience of sex trafficking ages 18 and older.

(c) "Healing, support, and transition services" means safe and trauma-informed services that are tailored to the self-determined needs of each individual. Healing, support, and transition services include:

(i) Advocacy;

(ii) Safety planning;

(iii) Housing and related support including support related to relocation;

(iv) Substance use disorder treatment;

(v) Medical and behavioral health services and other trauma-informed services;

(vi) Legal advocacy, which may include immigration system support, vacatur support, or other civil legal assistance;

(vii) Translation and interpretation;

(viii) Education;

(ix) Job training;

(x) Employment support;

(xi) Outreach; and

(xii) Emergency financial assistance.

(d) "Office" means the office of crime victims advocacy established under RCW 43.280.080.

(2) Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the office shall administer funding for healing, support, and transition services for adults with lived experience of sex trafficking. At least one of the healing, support, and transition service providers must be located east of the crest of the Cascade mountains, and at least one of the healing, support, and transition service providers must be located west of the crest of the Cascade mountains. Law enforcement, service providers, the department of children, youth, and families, and other state or local organizations may refer adults to healing, support, and transition services or adults may self-refer.

(3) The healing, support, and transition service providers receiving funding under this section must:

(a) Offer healing, support, and transition services designed to enhance safety and reduce and prevent further trauma;

(b) Provide ongoing services for adults with lived experience of sex trafficking;

(c) Provide culturally, developmentally, and linguistically informed and responsive services with priority given to underserved populations in the region, which are most impacted by sex trafficking. Depending on the region, underserved populations may include people who are African American, Asian, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, American Indian, Alaska Native, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, two-spirit, intersex, asexual, other identities that fall outside of cisgender and heterosexual paradigms +, or Latine;

(d) Incorporate into the program leadership from communities with unique risk factors for sex trafficking, sex trafficking survivor leadership, survivor-informed services, and survivor mentorship;

(e) Meet core needs, provide long-term services, and offer skill training to increase the range of options available to participants, including transition services;

(f) Not require proof of identification in order to access services or that an individual self-identify as a sex trafficking victim in order to initially access services;

(g) Regularly participate in coordination meetings for healing, support, and transition service providers;

(h) Provide training and information to law enforcement officers, prosecutors, service providers and other first responders, and communities with culturally specific risk factors for sex trafficking on how to engage and refer individuals to these services; and

(i) Report data on outcomes of the healing, support, and transition services to the office, collected on a quarterly basis from clients who may be compensated for survey participation.

(4) The office shall:

(a) Prioritize funding for healing, support, and transition service providers located in underserved areas of the state that have a need for healing, support, and transition services;

(b) Provide additional funding to one statewide organization led by adults with lived experience of sex trafficking for the purpose of providing coordinating support and convening statewide coordination meetings, no less than quarterly, for healing, support, and transition service providers and related service providers following a request for proposals;

(c) Issue a request for proposals for healing, support, and transition service providers by September 1, 2023;

(d) Include the following stakeholders in the development of the request for proposals and prioritization of funding:

(i) Diverse community representatives who have lived experience of transitioning out of sex trafficking; and

(ii) The secretary of the department of children, youth, and families, or their designee;

(e) Collect the following data:

(i) Nonidentifiable demographic data of clients served, including whether clients are current or former foster youth;

(ii) Data on trafficking and trauma verification, including the number of clients that have been verified as adults with lived experience of sex trafficking based on information self-disclosed by the client or a referring entity, the type of trafficking, and prior trauma history;

(iii) Data on the services provided to clients; and

(iv) Data on outcomes of the healing, support, and transition services, collected on a quarterly basis from clients;

(f) By December 1, 2024, submit an initial report to the relevant committees of the legislature that includes the following information by service providers:

(i) The number of clients served;

(ii) Nonidentifiable demographic data of the clients served, including whether clients are current or former foster youth; and

(iii) Data on the services provided to clients; and

(g) Beginning December 1, 2025, submit an annual report to:

(i) The relevant committees of the legislature that includes the following information by service provider:

(A) Nonidentifiable demographic data of clients served, including whether clients are current or former foster youth;

(B) Data on trafficking and trauma verification, including the number of clients that have been verified as adults with lived experience of sex trafficking based on information self-disclosed by the client or a referring entity, the type of trafficking, and prior trauma history;

(C) Data on the services provided to clients;

(D) Data on outcomes of the healing, support, and transition services, collected on a quarterly basis from clients; and

(E) Any recommendations for modification or expansion of the healing, support, and transition services; and

(ii) The department of children, youth, and families that includes data on current and former foster youth provided healing, support, and transition services. The department of children, youth, and families shall use this data for coordination with its liaisons for commercially sexually exploited children.

Findings—Intent—2023 c 268: "(1) As the first state in the nation to pass a human trafficking law, Washington has consistently been at the forefront of work to address and prevent human trafficking. The legislature is continuing this leadership by prioritizing the delivery of services for adults with lived experience of sex trafficking by developing a long-term, coordinated, and supportive network of services.

(2) The legislature finds that numerous sex trafficking victims are moved throughout the state of Washington by their traffickers, established by the following:

(a) In 2020, the national human trafficking hotline ranked Washington 11th in the nation for reported cases of human trafficking.

(b) In 2020, 819 survivors of sex trafficking were served by human service agencies in Washington.

(c) In 2020, the highest numbers of likely sex trafficking victims were identified or served in King, Pierce, Benton, Franklin, Clark, Snohomish, Spokane, and Thurston counties.

(3) The legislature finds that the trauma of sex trafficking often starts in childhood and continues into adulthood, established by the following:

(a) A local study of sex trafficking victims in King county estimated 500-700 youth experiencing exploitation in King county alone.

(b) According to data from the national hotline, among likely sex trafficking victims in Washington who reported their age of entry into exploitation, 89 percent reported that they were children when first exploited.

(4) The legislature finds that vulnerable black, brown, indigenous, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, two-spirit, intersex, asexual, and other identities that fall outside of cisgender and heterosexual paradigms are disproportionately trafficked for sex, including that:

(a) While King county's population is seven percent black, 45 percent of children involved in sex trafficking cases are African American;

(b) Black females currently represent about 13 percent of the United States population but represent 40 percent of suspected human trafficking victims;

(c) While King county's population was .9 percent indigenous in 2020, 10 percent of people receiving services for trafficking and sexual exploitation identified as Native American;

(d) One case worker in Pierce county reported that over the past two years, 78 percent of the missing and murdered indigenous women and persons cases she worked on involved missing women who had indicators of human trafficking.

(5) In order to reduce the trauma, violence, and disproportionate impact of sex trafficking, the legislature intends to create a network of healing, support, and transition services for adults with lived experience of sex trafficking tailored to the self-determined needs of each individual." [ 2023 c 268 § 1.]