Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.

     (1) "Shelter" means a place of temporary refuge, offered on a twenty-four hour, seven day per week basis to victims of domestic violence and their children.

     (2) "Domestic violence" is a categorization of offenses, as defined in RCW 10.99.020, committed by one cohabitant against another.

     (3) "Department" means the department of social and health services.

     (4) "Victim" means a cohabitant who has been subjected to domestic violence.

     (5) "Cohabitant" means a person who is or was married, in a state registered domestic partnership, or cohabiting with another person in an intimate or dating relationship at the present or at sometime in the past. Any person who has one or more children in common with another person, regardless of whether they have been married, in a domestic partnership with each other, or lived together at any time, shall be treated as a cohabitant.

     (6) "Community advocate" means a person employed by a local domestic violence program to provide ongoing assistance to victims of domestic violence in assessing safety needs, documenting the incidents and the extent of violence for possible use in the legal system, making appropriate social service referrals, and developing protocols and maintaining ongoing contacts necessary for local systems coordination.

     (7) "Domestic violence program" means an agency that provides shelter, advocacy, and counseling for domestic violence victims in a supportive environment.

     (8) "Legal advocate" means a person employed by a domestic violence program or court system to advocate for victims of domestic violence, within the criminal and civil justice systems, by attending court proceedings, assisting in document and case preparation, and ensuring linkage with the community advocate.

     (9) "Secretary" means the secretary of the department of social and health services or the secretary's designee.

[2008 c 6 § 303; 1991 c 301 § 9; 1979 ex.s. c 245 § 2.]

NOTES:

     Part headings not law -- Severability -- 2008 c 6: See RCW 26.60.900 and 26.60.901.

     Finding -- 1991 c 301: See note following RCW 10.99.020.