HB 1077 — Concerning courthouse facility dogs.

H-0522.1H-0216.1 SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1077 State of Washington 68th Legislature 2023 Regular Session By House Civil Rights & Judiciary (originally sponsored by Representatives Thai, Walen, Simmons, Leavitt, Senn, Goodman, and Santos)Santos READPrefiled FIRST12/23/22. TIME 01/17/23.

Read first time 01/09/23.

Referred to Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary.

1 SHBHB 1077 for children to address the adverse effects of the traumatic event and their experience recounting it during the legal process.

2 SHBHB 1077 (3) Courts may allow any witness who does not meet the criteria in subsection (2) of this section to use a courthouse facility dog, if available, to accompany them while testifying in court.

AThe certified handler may be asked to show theiridentification, identification card, provided by the accreditedqualified assistance dog organization that trained and certified the handler, to establish that they are a certified handler and that a courthouse facility dog theyand arecertified accompanyinghandler, is authorized to accessestablish thethat locationstheir identifiedpublic inaccess thisis section.authorized.

The motion may be filed in writing or made orally before the court.

(((6))) (7) If the court grants the motion filed under subsection (((4))) (5) of this section, the certified handler must be present in p.

3 SHBHB 1077 (((6))) (7) If the court grants the motion filed under subsection (((4))) (5) of this section, ((the)) a certified handler must be present in the courtroom to advocate for the (([courthouse])) courthouse facility dog as necessary.

The courthouse facility dog performing this service should be trained to accompany the witness to the stand without being attached to ((the))the a certified handler by a leash and lie on the floor out of view of the jury while the witness testifies.

(((9))) (10)(a)(10) EachFor accreditedpurposes assistanceof dogthis organizationsection: that trains and certifies courthouse facility dog handlers must issue an identification card to each handler it certifies that works with courthouse facility dogs in Washington.

(b)(a) The"Certified identificationhandler" cardmeans musta person who (i) clearlywas statetrained itto handle the courthouse facility dog by the assistance dog organization that placed the dog and (ii) is a "Certifiedprofessional Courthouseworking Facilityin Dogthe Handler"legal identification;system who is knowledgeable about its practices including, but not limited to, victim advocates, forensic interviewers, detectives, prosecuting attorneys, and guardians ad litem.

(ii) include the complete legal name of the certified handler;

and (iii) provide the name of and contact information for the accredited assistance dog organization that trained and certified the handler.

(c) The identification card must further state "Any courthouse facility dog accompanied by a certified handler is legally authorized to access all courthouses, places of public accommodation as defined in RCW 49.60.040, public transportation, children's advocacy centers, schools, day care facilities, law enforcement agencies, prosecutors' offices, attorneys' offices, medical facilities, specialty courts, p.

4 SHB 1077 court-appointed special advocates and guardian ad litem program offices, and all other locations identified in RCW 10.52.110." (11) For purposes of this section:

(a) "Certified handler" means a person who (i) was trained to handle ((the)) a courthouse facility dog by ((the)) an accredited assistance dog organization ((that placed the dog)) and (ii) is a professional working in the legal system who is knowledgeable about its practices including, but not limited to, victim advocates, forensic interviewers, detectives, prosecuting attorneys, and guardians ad litem.

(iii) was specially selected to provide services in the legal system to provide quiet companionship to witnesses and potential witnesses during stressful interviews, examinations, meetings, and other encounters associated with a law enforcementp. investigation, and legal proceedings, thereby enabling them to better engage with the process;

4 HB 1077 enforcement investigation, and legal proceedings, thereby enabling them to better engage with the process;

5 SHBHB 1077