These are the new laws taking effect in Washington state in July

Bills that made the headlines:

SB 5375 – Mandatory reporter law catches ire of Department of Justice 

This bill requires members of the clergy to report child abuse or neglect when they have reasonable cause to believe that a child has suffered such abuse or neglect, no matter the scenario in which they obtain that information. 

This bill has been controversial since it was first introduced in the Legislature due to clergy-penitent privilege. Similar to attorney-client privilege or spousal privilege, this means a priest or minister cannot be called to testify under oath about what someone told them in confession. The Roman Catholic

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