Domestic violence workgroup

One of the outcomes of the 2007 Courts of Limited Jurisdiction Work Group included a proposal to form a group to look at the issue of how best to increase meaningful access to the court system for victims of domestic violence. The CLJ work group concluded that improving access to the court system for victims of domestic violence was a goal, but meaningful access requires a whole range of support services that municipal courts currently do not provide and are not likely to be able to provide without significant additional funding. Simply mandating that municipal courts issue domestic violence anti-harassment and protection orders, which has been proposed in previous legislative sessions, will not overcome the need for these additional services.

Rep. Roger Goodman (D-Kirkland) convened a broad stakeholder group on July 28, 2009, to discuss how to effectively address domestic violence in the community and legal system, with a goal of introducing legislation in 2010. The next meeting is scheduled to take place in early September. AWC will continue to monitor the potential for impacts to cities. Please watch for updates in future Bulletins.

Nightclub license stakeholder meeting with cities (SSB 5367)

The Liquor Control Board (LCB) held a stakeholder meeting on August 10 to get input on the types of additional public safety restrictions local governments may seek under the new nightclub license approved earlier this year (SSB 5367) and to help identify a process for seeking the restrictions and determining their public safety purpose.

The new nightclub license will better identify establishments more prone to creating neighborhood issues and allows local governments to petition the LCB that "further restrictions be imposed on a spirits, beer, and wine nightclub license in the interest of public safety."

Next steps will include a formal rulemaking process that will likely take place in September.

If your city has input on this new license process but was unable to attend the meeting, or would like to be added to the distribution list for future communications on this topic, please contact Karen McCall at the LCB at kjm@liq.wa.gov or (360) 664-1631.

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