WA SB5169

Expands admissibility of child hearsay statements in court from children under age 10 to children under age 18 for dependency and criminal proceedings

Broadens categories of crimes covered by child hearsay exception to include sexual contact, physical abuse, trafficking, sexual exploitation of children, and violent offenses committed against or witnessed by children

Allows child witnesses under 18 to testify via one-way closed-circuit television outside the presence of the defendant and/or jury when the court finds the child would be traumatized by their presence

Requires courts to make particularized findings on the record before permitting closed-circuit testimony, including that no less restrictive method exists to protect the child witness

Declared an emergency measure taking effect immediately upon passage