SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 5356
As of February 13, 2025
Title: An act relating to training provided by the criminal justice training commission on a victim-centered, trauma-informed approach to interacting with victims and responding to calls involving gender-based violence or sexual violence.
Brief Description: Concerning training provided by the criminal justice training commission.
Sponsors: Senators Orwall, Hasegawa, Nobles and Wilson, C..
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Law & Justice: 2/03/25, 2/06/25 [DPS-WM].
Ways & Means: 2/18/25.
Brief Summary of First Substitute Bill
  • Expands sexual assault and gender-based violence investigative training to include persons responsible for regularly investigating prohibited conduct under Title IX at institutions of higher education.
  • Clarifies that peace officers working on patrol must also complete training related to interacting with victims and responding to calls involving sexual violence.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON LAW & JUSTICE
Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5356 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.
Signed by Senators Dhingra, Chair; Trudeau, Vice Chair; Holy, Ranking Member; Fortunato, Lovick, Salomon, Torres, Valdez and Wagoner.
Staff: Ryan Giannini (786-7285)
SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS
Staff: Sarian Scott (786-7729)
Background:

Criminal Justice Training Commission. The Criminal Justice Training Commission (CJTC) offers an annual intensive, integrated training session on investigating and prosecuting sexual assault cases for prosecutors, law enforcement, public defenders, and victim advocates. The training is self-supporting through fees charged to the participants of the training.

 

The CJTC also provides advanced training and educational programming for law enforcement officers, including the following:

  • training for officers on a victim-centered, trauma-informed approach to interacting with victims and responding to calls involving gender-based violence, which applicable officers must complete once every three years; and
  • specialized training for officers who are responsible for investigating sexual assault and other gender-based violence involving adult victims, which applicable officers must complete within one year of being assigned. The training must be based on a victim-centered, trauma-informed approach to responding to sexual assault and include content on the neurobiology of trauma and trauma-informed interviewing, counseling, and investigative techniques.
Summary of Bill (First Substitute):

The annual intensive, integrated training session on investigating and prosecuting sexual assault cases, and the specialized sexual assault and gender-based violence investigative training involving adult victims for law enforcement officers, are expanded to include persons responsible for regularly investigating prohibited conduct under Title IX at institutions of higher education. The CJTC will consult with the Washington Student Achievement Council regarding such training. 

Peace officers working on patrol are also required to complete training on a victim-centered, trauma-informed approach to interacting with victims and responding to calls involving sexual violence once every three years.
EFFECT OF CHANGES MADE BY LAW & JUSTICE COMMITTEE (First Substitute):
  • Clarifies that CJTC investigative training on sexual assault and gender-based violence is available to Title IX investigators who serve institutions of higher education rather than all institutions.
  • Adds an effective date of July 1, 2026.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect on July 1, 2026.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony on Original Bill (Law & Justice):

The committee recommended a different version of the bill than what was heard.  PRO: We have tried hard in our state to have a trauma-informed system that supports survivors. Training was enacted for people doing this work, including for law enforcement and prosecutors. Three to four years ago, when changes were made to the trainings for law enforcement, a component was accidentally removed. This bill puts back that requirement to ensure that an officer interacting with a survivor has the skillset to support the survivor and encourage the survivor if they decide to move forward in the process. Title IX investigators would also benefit from the training, since high rates of sexual assault happen in higher education institutions and we have heard from students that they often do not get the resources they need.

 

OTHER: The Title IX investigator training would be a little better as a standalone training. This way, the criminal justice investigation training and materials for law enforcement and Title IX investigators can be more tailored. The other parts of this bill will help clarify training requirements around gender-based violence and sexual assault for patrol office.
Persons Testifying (Law & Justice):

PRO: Senator Tina Orwall, Prime Sponsor.

OTHER: Andrea Piper-Wentland, Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying (Law & Justice): No one.