The proposed bill seeks to strengthen support for victims of hate crimes and bias incidents in Washington State by establishing a dedicated reporting hotline and a compensation program. The attorney general's office will oversee a hotline that provides crisis intervention, information, and referrals to victims, while law enforcement agencies will be required to report incidents to this hotline and share data for annual analysis. The bill ensures confidentiality for victims by protecting their personal identifying information from public disclosure. Additionally, a compensation program will be created to offer financial assistance to victims, with a maximum of $2,000 per person, funded through a new Washington hate crime and bias incident account.

Moreover, the bill amends existing laws related to the management of body worn camera recordings, allowing agencies to require identification from individuals requesting access and to charge for redaction costs. It mandates the use of cost-effective redaction technology and clarifies that the time spent on redaction does not count against public records request limits. The bill also introduces exemptions from public disclosure for certain sensitive information, including details related to the statewide sexual assault kit tracking system and child forensic interview recordings. It specifies that the act will be null and void if specific funding is not provided by June 30, 2023, and is set to take effect on January 1, 2024.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 42.56.240