Title 7 — Title 7 SPECIAL PROCEEDINGS AND ACTIONS

(1) The state crime victim and witness assistance account is created in the state treasury. The account shall consist of funds appropriated by the legislature for comprehensive crime victim and witness programs under RCW 7.68.035. The purpose of the account is to mitigate to fisc…

(1) No right of action at law for damages incurred as a consequence of a criminal act shall be lost as a consequence of being entitled to benefits under the provisions of this chapter. The victim or his or her beneficiary may elect to seek damages from the person or persons liabl…

(1) Except for applications received pursuant to subsection (6) of this section, no compensation of any kind shall be available under this chapter if:(a) An application for benefits is not received by the department within three years after the date the criminal act was reported …

If injury or death results to a victim from the deliberate intention of the victim himself or herself to produce such injury or death, or while the victim is engaged in the attempt to commit, or the commission of, a felony, neither the victim nor the widow, widower, child, or dep…

(1)(a) Where a victim is eligible for compensation under this chapter he or she shall file with the department his or her application for such, together with the certificate of the treating provider who attended him or her. An application for compensation form developed by the de…

Where death results from injury the parties eligible for compensation under this chapter, or someone in their behalf, shall make application for the same to the department, which application must be accompanied with proof of death and proof of relationship showing the parties to …

If change of circumstances warrants an increase or rearrangement of compensation, like application shall be made therefor. Where the application has been granted, compensation and other benefits if in order shall be allowed for periods of time up to sixty days prior to the receip…

(1) The department may require that the victim present himself or herself for a special medical examination by a physician or physicians selected by the department, and the department may require that the victim present himself or herself for a personal interview. The costs of th…

The eligibility for benefits under this chapter and the amount thereof will be governed insofar as is applicable by the provisions contained in this chapter.(1) Each victim injured as a result of a criminal act, including criminal acts committed between July 1, 1981, and January …

(1) Benefits for permanent total disability shall be determined under the director's supervision, only after the injured victim's condition becomes fixed.(2) All determinations of permanent total disabilities shall be made by the department. The victim may make a request or the i…

(1) If aggravation, diminution, or termination of disability takes place, the director may, upon the application of the beneficiary, made within seven years from the date the first closing order becomes final, or at any time upon his or her own motion, readjust the rate of compen…

(1) For persons receiving compensation for temporary total disability pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, such compensation shall be reduced by an amount equal to the benefits payable under the federal old-age, survivors, and disability insurance act as now or hereafter a…

Victims otherwise eligible for compensation under this chapter may also claim compensation for loss of or damage to the victim's personal clothing or footwear incurred in the course of emergency medical treatment for injuries.[ 2011 c 346 s 406.]Notes:Intent—Retroactive applicati…

Under this chapter, the marital status of all victims shall be deemed to be fixed as of the date of the criminal act. All references to the child or children living or conceived of the victim in this chapter shall be deemed to refer to such child or children as of the date of the…

A beneficiary shall at all times furnish the department with proof satisfactory to the director of the nature, amount, and extent of the contribution made by the deceased victim.[ 2011 c 346 s 407.]Notes:Intent—Retroactive application—Effective date—2011 c 346: See notes followin…

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 2632.SL) ***Except as otherwise provided by treaty or this chapter, whenever compensation is payable to a beneficiary who is an alien not residing in the United States, the department shall pay the compensation to which a resident beneficiary is eligib…

(1) When the injury to any victim is so serious as to require the victim being taken from the place of injury to a place of treatment, reasonable transportation costs to and from the nearest place of proper treatment to a reasonable location of the victim's choice shall be reimbu…

The director of labor and industries shall institute a cap on medical benefits of one hundred fifty thousand dollars per injury or death.For the purposes of this section, an individual will not be required to use his or her assets other than funds recovered as a result of a civil…

The director shall establish such fund or funds, separate from existing funds, necessary to administer this chapter, and payment to these funds shall be from legislative appropriation, statutory provision, reimbursement and subrogation as provided in this chapter, and from any co…

Health care professionals providing treatment or services to crime victims shall maintain all proper credentials and educational standards as required by law, and be registered with the department of health. The crime victims' compensation program does not pay for experimental or…

The department shall examine the credentials of persons conducting special medical examinations and shall monitor the quality and objectivity of examinations and reports. The department shall adopt rules to ensure that examinations are performed only by qualified persons meeting …

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 2632.SL) ***(1) Any victim eligible to receive any benefits or claiming such under this title shall, if requested by the department submit himself or herself for medical examination, at a time and from time to time, at a place reasonably convenient for…

Upon the occurrence of any injury to a victim eligible for compensation under the provisions of this chapter, he or she shall receive proper and necessary medical and surgical services using his or her private or public insurance or if no insurance, using a provider of his or her…

Any medical provider who fails, neglects, or refuses to file a report with the director, as required by this chapter, within five days of the date of treatment, showing the condition of the injured victim at the time of treatment, a description of the treatment given, and an esti…

Physicians or licensed *advanced registered nurse practitioners examining or attending injured victims under this chapter shall comply with rules and regulations adopted by the director, and shall make such reports as may be requested by the department upon the condition or treat…

The provisions contained in chapter 51.52 RCW relating to appeals shall govern appeals under this chapter: PROVIDED, That no provision contained in chapter 51.52 RCW concerning employers as parties to any settlement, appeal, or other action shall apply to this chapter: PROVIDED F…

(1)(a) If the victim or beneficiary in a claim prevails in an appeal by any party to the board of industrial insurance appeals or the court, the department shall comply with the board of industrial insurance appeals or court's order with respect to the payment of compensation wit…

Any person who has committed a criminal act which resulted in injury compensated under this chapter may be required to make reimbursement to the department as provided in this section.(1) Any payment of benefits to or on behalf of a victim under this chapter creates a debt due an…

(1)(a) Whenever any payment of benefits under this chapter is made because of clerical error, mistake of identity, innocent misrepresentation by or on behalf of the recipient thereof mistakenly acted upon, or any other circumstance of a similar nature, all not induced by willful …

Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, any overpayments previously recovered under the provisions of RCW 7.68.073 as now or hereafter amended shall be limited to six months' overpayments. Where greater recovery has already been made, the director, in his or her discretion, …

(1) As used in this section, "other state" and "another state" includes the several states, territories, and possessions of the United States, and the District of Columbia.(2)(a) The director shall attempt to enter into an agreement with any other state for reimbursement to the c…

(1) Benefits payable pursuant to this chapter shall be reduced by the amount of any other public or private insurance available, less a proportionate share of reasonable attorneys' fees and costs, if any, incurred by the victim in obtaining recovery from the insurer. Calculation …

Information contained in the claim files and records of victims, under the provisions of this chapter, shall be deemed confidential and shall not be open to public inspection: PROVIDED, That, except as limited by state or federal statutes or regulations, such information may be p…

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, all law enforcement, criminal justice, or other governmental agencies, or hospital; any physician or other practitioner of the healing arts; or any other organization or person having possession or control of any investigative or other …

All benefits and payments made, and all administrative costs accrued, pursuant to this chapter shall be funded and accounted for separate from the other operations and responsibilities of the department.[ 1973 1st ex.s. c 122 s 15.]

(1) Within current funding levels, the department's crime victims' compensation program shall post on its public website a report that shows the following items:(a) The total amount of current funding available in the crime victims' compensation fund;(b) The total amount of fundi…

Any person who has been injured as a result of a "criminal act" as herein defined on or after January 1, 1972 up to July 1, 1974, who would otherwise be eligible for benefits under this chapter, may for a period of ninety days from July 1, 1974, file a claim for benefits with the…

The rights, privileges, responsibilities, duties, limitations and procedures contained in this chapter shall apply to those claims filed pursuant to RCW 7.68.160. In respect to such claims, the department shall proceed in the same manner and with the same authority as provided in…

No costs incurred by a hospital or other emergency medical facility in Washington for the examination of the victim of a sexual assault, whether such assault occurred in or outside the state of Washington, when such examination is performed for the purposes of gathering evidence …

(1) No costs incurred by an institution as defined in RCW 26.44.020 for the examination of a suspected victim of assault of a child under chapter 9A.36 RCW may be billed or charged directly or indirectly to the suspected victim of the assault. Subject to the availability of amoun…

By November 1, 2023, and annually thereafter, and in compliance with RCW 43.01.036, the department must submit a report to the legislature and governor with the following information: The number of requests to pay for physical abuse exams for child victims of physical assault pur…

After hearing, as provided in RCW 7.68.210, every person, firm, corporation, partnership, association, or other legal entity contracting with any person or the representative or assignee of any person, accused or convicted of a crime in this state, with respect to the reenactment…

The prosecutor or the department may, at any time after the person's arraignment petition any superior court for an order, following notice and hearing, directing that any contract described in RCW 7.68.200 shall be paid in accordance with RCW 7.68.200 through 7.68.280.[ 1979 ex.…

The department, at least once every six months for five years from the date it receives such moneys, shall cause to have published a legal notice in newspapers of general circulation in the county wherein the crime was committed and in counties contiguous to such county advising …

Upon dismissal of charges or acquittal of any accused person the department shall immediately pay over to such accused person the moneys in the escrow account established on behalf of such accused person.[ 1979 ex.s. c 219 s 15.]Notes:Severability—1979 ex.s. c 219: See note follo…

Upon a showing by any convicted person or the state that five years have elapsed from the establishment of such escrow account and further that no actions are pending against such convicted person pursuant to RCW 7.68.200 through 7.68.280, the department shall immediately pay ove…

For purposes of *this act, a person found not guilty as a result of the defense of mental disease or defect shall be deemed to be a convicted person.[ 1979 ex.s. c 219 s 17.]Notes:*Reviser's note: "this act" literally refers to 1979 ex.s. c 219. As used in this section, the term …

Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of the civil practice and rules with respect to the timely bringing of an action, the five year period provided for in RCW 7.68.200 shall not begin to run until an escrow account has been established.[ 1979 ex.s. c 219 s 18.]Notes:Severa…

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of *this act the department shall make payments from an escrow account to any person accused or convicted of a crime upon the order of a court of competent jurisdiction after a showing by such person that such moneys shall be used for the …

Any action taken by any person accused or convicted of a crime, whether by way of execution of a power of attorney, creation of corporate entities or otherwise, to defeat the purpose of *this act shall be null and void as against the public policy of this state.[ 1979 ex.s. c 219…