RCW 13.40.570
Sexual misconduct by state employees, contractors.
(1) When the secretary has reasonable cause to believe that sexual intercourse or sexual contact between an employee and an offender has occurred, notwithstanding any rule adopted under chapter 41.06 RCW the secretary shall immediately suspend the employee.
(2) The secretary shall immediately institute proceedings to terminate the employment of any person:
(a) Who is found by the department, based on a preponderance of the evidence, to have had sexual intercourse or sexual contact with the offender; or
(b) Upon a guilty plea or conviction for any crime specified in chapter 9A.44 RCW when the victim was an offender.
(3) When the secretary has reasonable cause to believe that sexual intercourse or sexual contact between the employee of a contractor and an offender has occurred, the secretary shall require the employee of a contractor to be immediately removed from any employment position which would permit the employee to have any access to any offender.
(4) The secretary shall disqualify for employment with a contractor in any position with access to an offender, any person:
(a) Who is found by the department, based on a preponderance of the evidence, to have had sexual intercourse or sexual contact with the offender; or
(b) Upon a guilty plea or conviction for any crime specified in chapter 9A.44 RCW when the victim was an offender.
(5) The secretary, when considering the renewal of a contract with a contractor who has taken action under subsection (3) or (4) of this section, shall require the contractor to demonstrate that there has been significant progress made in reducing the likelihood that any of its employees will have sexual intercourse or sexual contact with an offender. The secretary shall examine whether the contractor has taken steps to improve hiring, training, and monitoring practices and whether the employee remains with the contractor. The secretary shall not renew a contract unless he or she determines that significant progress has been made.
(6)(a) For the purposes of RCW 50.20.060, a person terminated under this section shall be considered discharged for misconduct.
(b)(i) The department may, within its discretion or upon request of any member of the public, release information to an individual or to the public regarding any person or contract terminated under this section.
(ii) An appointed or elected public official, public employee, or public agency as defined in RCW 4.24.470 is immune from civil liability for damages for any discretionary release of relevant and necessary information, unless it is shown that the official, employee, or agency acted with gross negligence or in bad faith. The immunity provided under this section applies to the release of relevant and necessary information to other public officials, public employees, or public agencies, and to the public.
(iii) Except as provided in chapter 42.56 RCW, or elsewhere, nothing in this section shall impose any liability upon a public official, public employee, or public agency for failing to release information authorized under this section. Nothing in this section implies that information regarding persons designated in subsection (2) of this section is confidential except as may otherwise be provided by law.
(7) The department shall adopt rules to implement this section. The rules shall reflect the legislative intent that this section prohibits individuals who are employed by the department or a contractor of the department from having sexual intercourse or sexual contact with offenders. The rules shall also reflect the legislative intent that when a person is employed by the department or a contractor of the department, and has sexual intercourse or sexual contact with an offender against the employed person's will, the termination provisions of this section shall not be invoked.
(8) As used in this section:
(a) "Contractor" includes all subcontractors of a contractor;
(b) "Offender" means a person under the jurisdiction or supervision of the department; and
(c) "Sexual intercourse" and "sexual contact" have the meanings provided in RCW 9A.44.010.
[ 2005 c 274 § 210; 1999 c 72 § 1.]
NOTES:
Application—1999 c 72: "Nothing in section 1 or 2 of this act affects any collective bargaining agreement in place on July 25, 1999." [ 1999 c 72 § 3.]
Structure Revised Code of Washington
Title 13 - Juvenile Courts and Juvenile Offenders
Chapter 13.40 - Juvenile Justice Act of 1977.
13.40.010 - Short title—Intent—Purpose.
13.40.020 - Definitions (as amended by 2021 c 206).
13.40.030 - Security guidelines—Legislative review—Limitations on permissible ranges of confinement.
13.40.0351 - Equal application of guidelines and standards.
13.40.0357 - Juvenile offender sentencing standards.
13.40.038 - County juvenile detention facilities—Policy—Detention and risk assessment standards.
13.40.042 - Detention of juvenile suffering from mental disorder or substance use disorder.
13.40.045 - Escapees—Arrest warrants.
13.40.054 - Probation bond or collateral—Modification or revocation of probation bond.
13.40.056 - Nonrefundable bail fee.
13.40.060 - Jurisdiction of actions—Transfer of case and records, when—Change in venue, grounds.
13.40.077 - Recommended prosecuting standards for charging and plea dispositions.
13.40.085 - Diversion services costs—Fees—Payment by parent or legal guardian.
13.40.090 - Prosecuting attorney as party to juvenile court proceedings—Exception, procedure.
13.40.110 - Hearing on question of declining jurisdiction—Held, when—Findings.
13.40.120 - Hearings—Time and place.
13.40.127 - Deferred disposition.
13.40.135 - Sexual motivation special allegation—Procedures.
13.40.162 - Special sex offender disposition alternative.
13.40.165 - Substance use disorder or mental health disposition alternative.
13.40.190 - Disposition order—Restitution for loss or damage—Modification of restitution order.
13.40.193 - Firearms—Length of confinement.
13.40.196 - Firearms—Special allegation.
13.40.198 - Penalty assessments—Jurisdiction of court.
13.40.205 - Release from physical custody, when—Authorized leaves—Leave plan and order—Notice.
13.40.212 - Intensive supervision program—Elements.
13.40.217 - Juveniles adjudicated of sex offenses—Release of information authorized.
13.40.230 - Appeal from order of disposition—Jurisdiction—Procedure—Scope—Release pending appeal.
13.40.240 - Construction of RCW references to juvenile delinquents or juvenile delinquency.
13.40.250 - Traffic infraction, transit infraction, and civil infraction cases—Diversion agreements.
13.40.265 - Firearm, alcohol, and drug violations.
13.40.310 - Transitional treatment program for gang and drug-involved juvenile offenders.
13.40.320 - Juvenile offender basic training camp program.
13.40.400 - Applicability of RCW 10.01.040 to chapter.
13.40.430 - Disparity in disposition of juvenile offenders—Data collection.
13.40.460 - Juvenile rehabilitation programs—Administration.
13.40.462 - Reinvesting in youth program.
13.40.464 - Reinvesting in youth program—Guidelines.
13.40.466 - Reinvesting in youth account.
13.40.468 - Juvenile rehabilitation administration—State quality assurance program.
13.40.480 - Student records and information—Reasons for release—Who may request.
13.40.500 - Community juvenile accountability programs—Findings—Purpose.
13.40.510 - Community juvenile accountability programs—Establishment—Proposals—Guidelines.
13.40.520 - Community juvenile accountability programs—Grants.
13.40.530 - Community juvenile accountability programs—Effectiveness standards.
13.40.540 - Community juvenile accountability programs—Information collection—Report.
13.40.550 - Community juvenile accountability programs—Short title.
13.40.560 - Juvenile accountability incentive account.
13.40.570 - Sexual misconduct by state employees, contractors.
13.40.580 - Youth courts—Diversion.
13.40.590 - Youth court programs.
13.40.600 - Youth court jurisdiction.
13.40.610 - Youth court notification of satisfaction of conditions.
13.40.620 - Appearance before youth court with parent, guardian, or legal custodian.
13.40.630 - Youth court dispositions.
13.40.640 - Youth court nonrefundable fee.
13.40.650 - Use of restraints on pregnant youth in custody—Allowed in extraordinary circumstances.
13.40.660 - Exchange of intimate images by minors—Findings—Work group.
13.40.720 - Imposition of legal financial obligations—City, town, or county authority.
13.40.730 - Community transition services program.
13.40.735 - Planned release—Notice to health care insurance provider.
13.40.740 - Juvenile access to an attorney.
13.40.900 - Construction—Chapter applicable to state registered domestic partnerships—2009 c 521.