SSB 5362
In CommitteeSenate
Crime victim services
Concerning victims of crime act funding.
This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
This bill ensures stable, long-term state funding for crime victim services in Washington by setting escalating annual funding targets—starting at $50 million and rising to $70 million—combined with federal VOCA funds. It strengthens coordination between state and federal funding, protects services from federal funding fluctuations, and mandates reporting to guide future investment.
- Establishes a state commitment to fund crime victim services at levels that, when combined with federal VOCA funding, reach $50 million annually for the 2025–2027 and 2027–2029 biennia, rising to $70 million annually by 2033–2035 and beyond.
- Requires the Office of Crime Victims Advocacy to coordinate state and federal victim service funding using a unified process, while ensuring state funds are used to *supplement*—not replace—other funding sources.
- Allows state funds to be used as a federal match for federal VOCA funds, helping programs meet federal matching requirements.
- Prohibits state funds from being used for capital projects (e.g., building construction or major renovations).
- Requires the Office of Crime Victims Advocacy to submit a report to the legislature by December 15, 2039, and every five years thereafter, with data on services and recommendations for future funding levels.
Who is affected
- Crime victims and their families — Victims of crime and their families will receive more stable, accessible, and trauma-informed services across Washington, including culturally relevant support in every county.
- Crime victim service providers — Local and statewide programs that provide direct services to victims (e.g., counseling, advocacy, crisis response) will receive more predictable state funding to maintain operations and expand capacity.
- State and local government agencies (e.g., law enforcement, prosecutors, courts) — State and local agencies that rely on federal VOCA funds will benefit from more stable state matching funds, helping them meet federal match requirements and avoid service disruptions.
- Office of Crime Victims Advocacy — The Office of Crime Victims Advocacy will gain new statutory authority and responsibility to coordinate funding, ensure compliance, and report on service needs and outcomes.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for benefits
Potential Benefits (4)
By guaranteeing escalating state funding tied to federal VOCA levels, the bill stabilizes service delivery across all 39 counties—especially critical in rural and underserved areas—reducing service gaps and improving response to victims of crime, including domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 2(1)(a)-(c); Sec. 1(4)Allowing state funds to serve as federal match increases the effective federal funding available to local programs, enabling more Washington VOCA-funded programs to meet matching requirements and access full federal allocations—potentially unlocking $20–$30M in additional federal dollars annually.
FinancialPeopleRef: Sec. 2(3)(c)Mandating trauma-informed, culturally relevant services—backed by stable funding—improves access to mental health, medical, and advocacy services for victims, especially for communities historically excluded from or harmed by systems (e.g., immigrants, communities of color, LGBTQ+ individuals).
HealthcarePeopleRef: Sec. 2(2); Sec. 1(2)Requiring unified administration of state and federal victim service funding reduces administrative burden on local providers (many of which are small nonprofits), allowing more resources to go directly to services rather than compliance paperwork.
Local GovernmentPeopleRef: Sec. 2(3)(a)
Potential Concerns (3)
The bill mandates escalating state appropriations—starting at $50M annually and rising to $70M—combined with federal VOCA funds, which will increase the state’s baseline budget commitment by $20–$30M per biennium above current baseline spending. This creates a structural fiscal obligation that reduces flexibility in future budgets and may crowd out other priorities like education, housing, or behavioral health if revenue growth lags.
FinancialPeopleRef: Sec. 2(1)(a)-(c)The prohibition on using state funds for capital projects (e.g., building construction or major renovations) limits the ability of service providers—many of which are small nonprofits with aging infrastructure—to modernize facilities, potentially limiting service capacity or forcing them to divert scarce operational funds to facility upkeep.
Business & EmploymentPeopleRef: Sec. 2(3)(d)The “supplement, not supplant” requirement may discourage state agencies (e.g., law enforcement, prosecutors) from increasing their own investments in victim services, as they may fear losing eligibility for state matching funds if they increase baseline spending—potentially slowing broader system coordination.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 2(3)(b)
Who Is Most Affected
Victims and survivors—especially those in rural counties, low-income households, and communities of color—will gain more consistent access to trauma-informed counseling, advocacy, crisis response, and legal assistance. This reduces barriers to safety and healing, especially for those with limited means to access private services.
Small- to mid-sized nonprofit service providers (e.g., domestic violence shelters, sexual assault crisis centers, victim witness assistance programs) will benefit from predictable, multi-year funding, reducing operational uncertainty and enabling hiring, retention, and program expansion—particularly in underserved areas.
State and local agencies (e.g., county prosecutors, sheriff’s offices, law enforcement) gain reliable state matching funds to meet federal VOCA requirements, reducing risk of lost federal grants and improving interagency coordination—but are constrained by the “supplement, not supplant” rule.
The Office of Crime Victims Advocacy gains statutory authority to coordinate funding, enforce compliance, and report outcomes—strengthening its role as a central hub—but also adds administrative responsibilities and accountability deadlines.
State taxpayers—especially those earning under $100K—bear the cost of increased general fund appropriations, but benefit indirectly through improved community safety, reduced emergency response costs, and lower long-term health/social service utilization among survivors.