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.
- 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.
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