SB 5707 – Housing Court Pilot Program Hearing: Tuesday, February 14 at 10:30 a.m.

Sign to testify in opposition of SB 5707 in the Senate Law & Justice Committee.  The SL&J committee must be contacted quickly.  (You can also simply state that you are opposed -- see the links below.  Sorry about the rush.  The notice of the hearing was slow in coming out.

SB 5707  Bill Summary

• Creates a new Housing Court Pilot Program inside District Court for counties in Western Washington with a population of 2 million or more (King County).
• Creates a new Housing Court Pilot Program inside District Court for counties in Eastern Washington with a population of 500,000 or more (Spokane County).
• Applies to tenancies under RCW 59.12 and RCW 59.19
• Includes case management that "should" result in efficient use and time.
• Court facilitator to assist both parties (housing provider and resident).
• Provide "non-adversarial" methods of dispute resolution such as a settlement conference and mediation by attorney mediators.
• Sealing of eviction records.
• Judicial officers are required to complete training program and subsequent training for a minimum of 8 hours annually.
• Report to the State December 24, 2024, and each year thereafter.
• Effective date January 1, 2024.
• Expires July 1, 2033.

 Flaws

• The Dispute Resolution Center is an ineffective and tedious process. How will this program be an improvement?
• This program will impose immense financial and administrative burden on the counties that implement it.
• Sealing eviction records suppresses relevant information for future housing providers.
• There are already cities in Washington who cannot deny a resident based on eviction history.
• This will slow down the eviction process which could lead to further harm to property or other residents in some circumstances.