Title 7, SPECIAL PROCEEDINGS AND ACTIONS

(1) The proceeds of any forfeiture action brought under RCW 7.68.320 shall be distributed as follows: (a) First, to the victim or to the plaintiff in a wrongful death action brought as a result of the victim's death, to satisfy any money judgment against the convicted person, or …

(1) Any action taken by or on behalf of a convicted person including but not limited to executing a power of attorney or creating a corporation for the purpose of defeating the provisions of RCW 7.68.300 through 7.68.330 is null and void as against the public policy of this state…

(1) There is created the Washington state task force against the trafficking of persons. (2)(a) The task force shall consist of the following members: (i) One member from each of the two largest caucuses of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate; (ii) One member fro…

(1) By July 1, 2005, the director of the department of commerce, or the director's designee, shall within existing resources convene and chair a work group to develop written protocols for delivery of services to victims of trafficking of humans. The director shall invite appropr…

(1) The office of crime victims advocacy is designated as the single point of contact in state government regarding the trafficking of persons. (2) The Washington state clearinghouse on human trafficking is created as an information portal to share and coordinate statewide effort…

(1) Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the department of children, youth, and families shall administer funding for two receiving center programs for commercially sexually exploited children. One of these programs must be located west o…

(1) The following individuals or entities may refer a child to receiving centers as defined in RCW 7.68.380: (a) Law enforcement, who shall: (i) Transport a child eligible for receiving center services to a receiving center; or (ii) Coordinate transportation with a liaison dedica…

(1) No costs incurred by a hospital or other emergency medical facility in Washington for the examination of the victim of domestic violence assault involving nonfatal strangulation, whether such assault occurred in or outside the state of Washington, when such examination is per…

(1) Subject to the availability of funds appropriated for this purpose, the commercially sexually exploited children statewide coordinating committee is established to facilitate a statewide coordinated response to the commercial sexual exploitation of children, youth, and young …

This chapter shall take effect on July 1, 1974. [ 1973 1st ex.s. c 122 s 17.] Notes: Funding required: "This bill shall not take effect until the funds necessary for its implementation have been specifically appropriated by the legislature and such appropriation itself has become…

(1) If any provision of this chapter, or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the chapter, or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances, is not affected. (2) Subsection (1) of this section shall be effective retr…

Section captions as used in this act do not constitute any part of the law. [ 1973 1st ex.s. c 122 s 20.]

Nothing in chapter 8, Laws of 1982 1st ex. sess., affects or impairs any right to benefits existing prior to *the effective date of this act. For injuries occurring on and after July 1, 1981, and before *the effective date of this act, the statute of limitations for filing claims…

For the purposes of this chapter, the terms spouse, marriage, marital, husband, wife, widow, widower, next of kin, and family shall be interpreted as applying equally to state registered domestic partnerships or individuals in state registered domestic partnerships as well as to …

In recognition of the severe and detrimental impact of crime on victims, survivors of victims, and witnesses of crime and the civic and moral duty of victims, survivors of victims, and witnesses of crimes to fully and voluntarily cooperate with law enforcement and prosecutorial a…

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter. (1) "Crime" means an act punishable as a felony, gross misdemeanor, or misdemeanor under the laws of this state or equivalent federal or local law. (2) "Survivor" or "sur…

(1) There shall be a reasonable effort made to ensure that victims, survivors of victims, and witnesses of crimes have the following rights, which apply to any adult or juvenile criminal proceeding and any civil commitment proceeding under chapter 10.77 or 71.09 RCW: (a) With res…

(1) The legislature recognizes the significant concerns that many victims, survivors of victims, and witnesses of crimes have when offenders are considered for postsentence release from confinement. Therefore, it is the intent of the legislature to ensure that victims, survivors …

The legislature recognizes that witnesses are often fearful of testifying against criminal gang members. Witnesses may be subject to harassment, intimidation, and threats. While the state does not ensure protection of witnesses, the state intends to provide resources to assist lo…

For purposes of this chapter, a victim who is incapacitated or otherwise incompetent shall be represented by a parent or present legal guardian, or if none exists, by a representative designated by the prosecuting attorney without court appointment or legal guardianship proceedin…

Nothing contained in this chapter may be construed to provide grounds for error in favor of a criminal defendant in a criminal proceeding, nor may anything in this chapter be construed to grant a new cause of action or remedy against the state, its political subdivisions, law enf…

The legislature recognizes that it is important that child victims and child witnesses of crime cooperate with law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies and that their assistance contributes to state and local enforcement efforts and the general effectiveness of the criminal jus…

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter. (1) "Crime" means an act punishable as a felony, gross misdemeanor, or misdemeanor under the laws of this state or equivalent federal or local law. (2) "Child" means any …

In addition to the rights of victims and witnesses provided for in RCW 7.69.030, there shall be every reasonable effort made by law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and judges to assure that child victims and witnesses are afforded the rights enumerated in this section. Except …

The failure to provide notice to a child victim or witness under this chapter of the rights enumerated in RCW 7.69A.030 shall not result in civil liability so long as the failure to notify was in good faith and without gross negligence. The failure to make a reasonable effort to …

At the time of reporting a crime to law enforcement officials and at the time of the initial witness interview, child victims or child witnesses of violent crimes, sex crimes, or child abuse and the child's parents shall be informed of their rights to not have their address discl…

The legislature recognizes that it is important that dependent persons who are witnesses and victims of crime cooperate with law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies and that their assistance contributes to state and local enforcement efforts and the general effectiveness of th…

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter. (1) "Crime" means an act punishable as a felony, gross misdemeanor, or misdemeanor under the laws of this state or equivalent federal or local law. (2) "Dependent person"…

(1) In addition to the rights of victims and witnesses provided for in RCW 7.69.030, there shall be every reasonable effort made by law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and judges to assure that dependent persons who are victims or witnesses are afforded the rights enumerated i…

(1) The prosecutor or defense may file a motion with the court at any time prior to commencement of the trial for an order authorizing the taking of a videotape deposition for the purpose of preserving the direct testimony of the moving party's witness if that witness is a depend…

(1) The failure to provide notice to a dependent person of the rights enumerated in this chapter or the failure to provide the rights enumerated shall not result in civil liability so long as the failure was in good faith. (2) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to limit a…

The state of Washington, exercising its police and sovereign power, hereby modifies as set forth in this chapter and in RCW 4.16.350, as now or hereafter amended, certain substantive and procedural aspects of all civil actions and causes of action, whether based on tort, contract…

As used in this chapter "health care provider" means either: (1) A person licensed by this state to provide health care or related services including, but not limited to, an acupuncturist or acupuncture and Eastern medicine practitioner, a physician, osteopathic physician, dentis…

No award shall be made in any action or arbitration for damages for injury occurring as the result of health care which is provided after June 25, 1976, unless the plaintiff establishes one or more of the following propositions: (1) That injury resulted from the failure of a heal…

(1) The following shall be necessary elements of proof that injury resulted from the failure of the health care provider to follow the accepted standard of care: (a) The health care provider failed to exercise that degree of care, skill, and learning expected of a reasonably prud…

(1) The following shall be necessary elements of proof that injury resulted from health care in a civil negligence case or arbitration involving the issue of the alleged breach of the duty to secure an informed consent by a patient or his or her representatives against a health c…

(1) If a patient who has capacity to make health a care [a health care] decision, or his or her representative if he or she does not have the capacity to make a health care decision, signs a consent form which sets forth the following, the signed consent form shall constitute pri…

(1) Informed consent for health care for a patient who does not have the capacity to make a health care decision may be obtained from a person authorized to consent on behalf of such patient. For purposes of this section, a person who is of the age of consent to make a particular…

Consent to treatment or admission contained in a validly executed mental health advance directive constitutes informed consent for purposes of this chapter. [ 2003 c 283 s 30.]

The court shall, in any action under this chapter, determine the reasonableness of each party's attorneys fees. The court shall take into consideration the following: (1) The time and labor required, the novelty and difficulty of the questions involved, and the skill requisite to…

Any party may present evidence to the trier of fact that the plaintiff has already been compensated for the injury complained of from any source except the assets of the plaintiff, the plaintiff's representative, or the plaintiff's immediate family. In the event such evidence is …

Members of the board of directors or other governing body of a public or private hospital are not individually liable for personal injuries or death resulting from health care administered by a health care provider granted privileges to provide health care at the hospital unless …

(1) Before a superior court trial, all causes of action, whether based in tort, contract, or otherwise, for damages arising from injury occurring as a result of health care provided after July 1, 1993, shall be subject to mandatory mediation prior to trial except as provided in s…

The making of a written, good faith request for mediation of a dispute related to damages for injury occurring as a result of health care prior to filing a cause of action under this chapter shall toll the statute of limitations provided in RCW 4.16.350 for one year. [ 1996 c 270…

RCW 7.70.100 may not be construed to abridge the right to trial by jury following an unsuccessful attempt at mediation. [ 1993 c 492 s 421.] Notes: Findings—Intent—1993 c 492: See notes following RCW 43.20.050. Short title—Savings—Reservation of legislative power—Effective dates—…

A cause of action that has been mediated as provided in RCW 7.70.100 shall be exempt from any superior court civil rules mandating arbitration of civil actions or participation in settlement conferences prior to trial. [ 1993 c 492 s 423.] Notes: Findings—Intent—1993 c 492: See n…