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.
AN ACT Relating to establishing an office of the crime victims ombuds; adding a new chapter to Title 43 RCW; and providing an expiration date.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) The office of the crime victims ombuds is created. The department of commerce shall contract with a private, independent nonprofit organization to provide crime victims ombuds services. The department of commerce shall designate, by a competitive bidding process, the nonprofit organization that will contract to operate the ombuds. The selection process must include consultation of stakeholders in the development of the request for proposals and evaluation of bids. The selected organization must have experience and the capacity to effectively communicate regarding crime victims' issues with policymakers, stakeholders, and the general public and must be prepared and able to provide all program and staff support necessary, directly or through subcontracts, to carry out all duties of the office.
(2) The contracting organization and its subcontractors, if any, are not state agencies or departments, but instead are private, independent entities operating under contract with the state.