WA SB5356

Criminal Justice Training Commission must develop two separate training curricula for peace officers: one for responding to sexual violence calls and one for responding to gender-based violence calls

Peace officers on patrol must complete sexual violence response training within one year of assignment and every three years thereafter; all peace officers must complete gender-based violence training at least every three years

Training for investigators of sexual assault and gender-based violence now explicitly includes Title IX investigators at higher education institutions, with the Student Achievement Council added as a required advisory body

Courts may now allow children under age 18 (raised from 14) to testify in sexual assault cases from a room outside the presence of the defendant and jury

Effective date: July 1, 2026