(1) Treatment services for children who have been sexually assaulted must be designed and delivered in a manner that accommodates their unique developmental needs and also considers the impact of family dynamics on treatment issues. In addition, the complexity of the civil and criminal justice systems requires that children who are involved receive appropriate consideration and attention that recognizes their unique vulnerability in a system designed primarily for adults.

     (2) The *department of community, trade, and economic development shall provide, subject to available funds, comprehensive sexual assault services to sexually abused children and their families. The department shall provide treatment services by qualified, registered, certified, or licensed professionals on a one-to-one or group basis as may be deemed appropriate.

     (3) Funds appropriated under this section shall be provided solely for contracts or direct purchase of specific treatment services from community organizations and private service providers for child victims of sexual assault and sexual abuse. Funds shall be disbursed through the request for proposal or request for qualifications process.

     (4) As part of the request for proposal or request for qualifications process the *department of community, trade, and economic development shall ensure that there be no duplication of services with existing programs including the crime victims' compensation program as provided in chapter 7.68 RCW. The department shall also ensure that victims exhaust private insurance benefits available to the child victim before providing services to the child victim under this section.

[1996 c 123 § 8; 1990 c 3 § 1402.]

NOTES:

     *Reviser's note: The "department of community, trade, and economic development" was renamed the "department of commerce" by 2009 c 565.

     Transfer of powers and duties -- 1996 c 123: "The powers and duties of the department of social and health services to provide services and funding for services to sexually abused children under RCW 74.14B.060 shall be transferred to the *department of community, trade, and economic development on July 1, 1996. The department of social and health services shall transfer all unspent appropriated funds, records, and documents necessary to facilitate a successful transfer." [1996 c 123 § 10.]

     *Reviser's note: The "department of community, trade, and economic development" was renamed the "department of commerce" by 2009 c 565.

     Effective date -- 1996 c 123: See note following RCW 43.280.010.

     Index, part headings not law -- Severability -- Effective dates -- Application -- 1990 c 3: See RCW 18.155.900 through 18.155.902.