2SSB 6017
In CommitteeSenate
Crime victims & witnesses
Supporting crime victims and witnesses by promoting victim-centered, trauma-informed responses.
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 strengthens rights and protections for survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, and female genital mutilation by expanding access to trauma-informed services, clarifying legal procedures when defendants represent themselves, and extending the work of a key advisory group. It also gives minors 13 and older the right to consent to forensic exams in certain cases and ensures survivors have ongoing access to advocates and evidence preservation.
- Creates new rights for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence—including those affected by female genital mutilation—to access trauma-informed support, forensic exams, and advocate assistance during legal proceedings.
- Allows courts to appoint a neutral representative to conduct direct questioning of victims when a defendant represents themselves (pro se), ensuring the defendant’s questions are asked while protecting the victim from direct confrontation.
- Gives minors age 13 and older the legal right to consent to forensic exams for nonfatal strangulation in domestic violence cases, without requiring parental consent.
- Expands the definition of 'sexual assault' to explicitly include female genital mutilation and clarifies survivor rights to forensic exams, evidence preservation, police reports, and timely updates.
- Extends the life of the SAFE (Sexual Assault Forensic Examination) advisory group to July 1, 2028, and broadens its duties to include research and recommendations on trauma-informed, culturally responsive policies to prevent and address sexual violence—including FGM.
Who is affected
- Survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence — Survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence gain new rights to advocate support, forensic exams, and protections during legal processes, especially when the accused represents themselves in court.
- Minors age 13–17 — Minors age 13 and older can now legally consent to forensic exams for nonfatal strangulation in domestic violence cases, without requiring parental permission.
- Community sexual assault programs and advocates — Community-based sexual assault programs and advocates gain clearer recognition and expanded roles in supporting survivors across investigations and court proceedings.
- Criminal justice and medical professionals — Law enforcement, prosecutors, courts, and medical facilities must adopt new procedures to support trauma-informed responses and ensure survivor rights are upheld.
- Survivors of female genital mutilation — Survivors of female genital mutilation (FGM) gain explicit inclusion under existing sexual assault survivor rights and policy development efforts.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for benefits
Potential Benefits (5)
Requiring neutral third-party questioning of survivors by pro se defendants significantly reduces trauma re-victimization during trials, improving survivor participation and testimony quality while preserving defendant’s right to confrontation—balancing fairness and trauma-informed care.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 2Empowering minors 13+ to consent to forensic exams for nonfatal strangulation removes a major barrier to evidence collection in cases where parental involvement may deter reporting (e.g., abusive households), increasing accountability and access to justice for vulnerable youth.
Rights & LibertiesPeopleRef: Sec. 3Codifying 14 specific rights for survivors—including access to advocates, interpreter services, police reports, and timely updates—creates enforceable legal protections that reduce systemic marginalization and improve survivor agency in the justice process.
Rights & LibertiesPeopleRef: Sec. 5Explicitly including female genital mutilation (FGM) in the definition of sexual assault and expanding the SAFE Advisory Group’s mandate to address culturally responsive prevention strategies directly supports Washington’s high-risk FGM communities and improves long-term prevention capacity.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1 & Sec. 6Mandating referrals to community sexual assault programs and access to advocates throughout the investigative process ensures survivors receive trauma-informed, culturally competent care—improving mental and physical health outcomes and increasing reporting and retention in care.
HealthcarePeopleRef: Sec. 5(1)(c), (d), (m)
Potential Concerns (3)
Mandating court-appointed representatives for pro se defendants in sexual assault/domestic violence cases may increase procedural complexity and delay in court proceedings, potentially slowing case resolution and increasing strain on judicial resources during an already overburdened process.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 2Allowing minors age 13+ to consent to forensic exams without parental notification may conflict with parental rights and could discourage families from engaging with services if they discover their child accessed care without their knowledge, potentially undermining trust and continuity of care.
Rights & LibertiesPeopleRef: Sec. 3The bill imposes new mandates on law enforcement, courts, and medical facilities (e.g., providing advocates, interpreter services, evidence preservation) without dedicated funding, potentially diverting existing local resources or causing underfunded agencies to scale back other services.
Local GovernmentLean peopleRef: Fiscal Impact Summary
Who Is Most Affected
Survivors—especially those in abusive households or with limited support—gain enforceable rights to advocates, interpreter services, and trauma-informed care, significantly reducing barriers to justice and healing.
Minors 13–17 gain autonomy to seek forensic exams without parental consent in cases where parental involvement may be dangerous or counterproductive—critical for youth in abusive homes or conservative communities.
Community-based sexual assault programs gain formal recognition and expanded roles in legal proceedings, strengthening their capacity to serve survivors—but may face increased demand without proportional funding.
Law enforcement and medical staff must adopt new protocols (e.g., advocate access, interpreter coordination), increasing administrative burden—but also standardize trauma-informed responses, improving consistency and survivor trust.
Survivors of FGM gain explicit legal inclusion and targeted policy development—addressing a historically ignored form of violence in Washington’s high-prevalence communities.