The bill establishes a domestic violence co-responder account within the state treasury, which will receive funds from specific fees collected under RCW 36.18.010. The funds in this account are designated for use in a newly created domestic violence co-responder grant program, which will be administered by the office of crime victims advocacy. This program aims to provide matching grants to cities and counties for the establishment and operation of domestic violence co-responder programs, which involve domestic violence victim advocates responding alongside law enforcement to provide support and resources to victims.
Additionally, the bill amends RCW 36.18.010 to include a new $100 fee for marriage licenses, which will be directed to the domestic violence co-responder account. This fee is part of a broader structure of fees collected by county auditors for various services, with the intention of supporting domestic violence response initiatives. The bill also removes previous legislative intent regarding the appropriation of funds generated by marriage license fees for the displaced homemaker act, thereby reallocating those resources to the new co-responder program.