Our Public Veto Request Letter to Governor Bob Ferguson w/ 370+ Signatures

(To sign onto this letter, go to https://forms.gle/LerPvFo4fWPYGsoH9.)

Dear Governor Bob Ferguson,

Please listen to us, the legislature has ignored us.  HB 1620 is not survivor-led, not backed by science or research.  HB 1620’s only supporters in Olympia are paid lobbyists and misinformed organizations that haven’t read the bill.   No survivor that isn’t affiliated with the WSCADV has shown up in person to testify to support their position, while 16 unaffiliated survivors have shown up to testify in support of our position because they are currently litigating the exact provisions 1620 affects in their custody cases. Furthermore, over 30,000 abuse survivors and supporters already signed a letter in opposition to this bill but lawmakers and compromised organizations ignored this letter after our version passed the House, for that letter please see https://www.payes.org/striker-1.

We have been fighting this bill since 2023 because it forces children to live with violent abusers and replaces the RCW 26.09.191 protections with flimsy unenforceable “guidance.”  We can’t rely on just judges to protect children, we also need laws to protect children too. The only mandatory limitations left are those that limit parents convicted of child sexual assault.  HB 1620 even removes supervision requirements for perpetrators of child sexual abuse by making the requirement only apply to criminal convictions, not family court findings. According to RAINN only 7 out of 1000 reported sexual assaults result in a criminal conviction.  Civil actions require civil standards of evidence for a reason, these are defenseless children asking for protection from a person who is trying to live with them, they shouldn’t be asked to prove “beyond a reasonable doubt” when they can’t even testify in their own court case. Meanwhile, HB 1620 heightens the application of limitations commonly put on domestic abuse survivors with non-abuse labels such as “emotional impairment” and “abusive use of conflict,” these vague labels have no evidence standards, are labeled on completely safe and legal parenting actions, and operate like ex post facto laws against survivors.  

Keeping children safe is bipartisan.  Our striker amendments that were removed, was voted 86-7 out of the house, is based on 2022 The Model Code, science, research, and the federal 2022 Keeping Children Safe from Family Violence Act. Our opposition has had 3-4 full time highly paid lobbyists since 2023 who have effectively convinced the majority democrats to ignore us. This is no exaggeration—roughly 90% of the arguments used in committee, on the floor and in materials to lawmakers to promote this bill is straight misinformation or based on misinformation. You can read more about the misinformation and how heavily the odds have been stacked against us here: https://www.payes.org/1620-procedure.  WSCADV has failed to represent survivors in this legislation; instead, they’ve asked survivors to represent their agenda—spreading wildly false information to their 70 member organizations to help kill our protective amendments, see https://www.payes.org/wscadv. 

RCW 26.09.191 was created by the 1987 Parenting Act and has had 15 minor fixes since then, “Following the 1983 legislative session, an ad hoc committee, which include lawyers, state legislators, family law professors, child psychiatrists and psychologists, began working on a compromise draft that eventually became the Parenting Act of 1987.” – In re Marriage of Kovacs, 1993.  These professionals chose mandatory language in the 191 Statute precisely because abusers routinely convince judges not to protect children. 

The bill has been cleverly written to hide the harm to children, by striking out most of the statute, replicating some language in different sections so that its application is wildly different, and giving every other protection a way to be dismantled by an abuser.  Below is what HB 1620 does to our protective 191 statute.  Please VETO the entirety of HB 1620.  RCW 26.09.191 protects children; HB 1620 protects abusers.

Below is HB 1620 without the confusing format:

RCW 26.09.191 Restrictions in temporary or permanent parenting plans.

(1) The permanent parenting plan shall not require mutual decision-making … if it is found that a parent has engaged in any of the following conduct: … (b) physical, sexual, or a pattern of emotional abuse of a child; or (c) a history of acts of domestic violence…

(2)(a) The parent's residential time with the child shall may be limited if it is found that the parent has engaged in any of the following conduct:... (ii) physical, sexual, or a pattern of emotional abuse of a child; (iii) a history of acts of domestic violence …

(k) Only if there is a criminal conviction of child sexual abuse, a court shall not order unsupervised contact between the offending parent and a child of the offending parent who was sexually abused by that parent. …

(3)… [T]he court may preclude or limit, any provisions of the parenting plan, put that parent on supervised visitation, no contact, or make contact contingent on completion of evaluation or treatment, if any of the following factors exist: … (b) A[n]… emotional … impairment … (e) The abusive use of conflict by the parent …

Please see https://www.payes.org/comparison for detailed analysis of the harms of HB 1620. 

Respectfully,

Organizations: Kimberly Kerr with A Case for Ace, Rasham Nassar with Pharos Law, Candice Kendell with American Academy of Pediatrics, Karla Reyes with LULAC (League of United Latin American Citizens), Rebecca Chadwell with Her Harbor, Katrina Woodward with Pioneer Human Services, Nikita Evans and Erica Loose with National Safe Parents Organization, Shira Cole with PAYES, Tina Swithin with One Mom’s Battle.

Survivors and Supporters: Sarah Hulteen, Melissa Anne Strawn, Joseph Aguirre, Michael Strawn - Adult Child of Abuse Survivor Currently Being Harmed in WA Family Courts, Rusty Alexander - Witness to Abuse Survivor Currently Being Harmed by WA Family Courts, Ronald Strawn - Witness to Abuse and Father of Survivor Currently Being Harmed by WA Family Courts, Sandra Strawn - Mother of Victim Currently Being Harmed in WA Family Court, Laura Maryon - Sister of Survivor Currently Being Harmed in WA Family Courts, Maria Garcia, Chelsi Eastwood, Rose Garza, Michaela DeLorenzo, Elizabeth Cooper, Alexandra Prescott, Heidi A. Padilla, Amy Greenwood, Valerie, Khara Jensen-Olvera, Natalie Sullivan, Angela Garcia-Leija, Ernest, Lisa Tobey, Sarah Stanley, William Waring, Eli, Tawna Jensen, Emily Farris, Kimberly Kerr, Ana Tran, Tracey Johnson, Rebecca Dunn, Marcia Smith, Betty Branscom, Morgan, Amanda Anderson, Michael Bower, Tunzala Abil, Fatemeh A, Gretchen Pawling, Khuraman Abil, Baybala Abil, Bethany Altobelli, Drujan Olvera, Chanda Bartholomew, Ellen Rice-Lewis, Amy Marrs, Patricia Ward, Joya Goodhue, Maya R, Evangeline Stratton, Mica Lakip, Amy Correa, Katherine Wigley, Tammy Shin, Amy Annette, Sonny Shin, Yang Shin, Kung Shin, Jessica Silks, Rasham Nassar, Jennifer Overman, Leah Barkhuff, Evelyne K Bishopp, Lori Jo Smith, Lori Jo Smith, Stacey Delcau, Jina Romano, Amy Williams, Jennifer L. Como, Steven E. Williams, Carol S. Waters, Aaron J. Como, Heather StClair, Wayne Knapp, Quadrus Royal, Larry Williams, Katrina Millburn, Sean M. Como, Patricia M. Edmundson, Nancie Thorne, Jessi Walter, Lindsey Laspisa, Candice Kendell, Lindsay Boone, Jennifer Bloom, Shauna Horneman, Jayme Nimick, Rebecca Chadwell, Rebecca Thomas, Kati Naatus, Kristofer Wall, Craig Haley, Riley Ellis, Brooke Eggen, Morna McEachern, PhD, Shelley Barnes, Pamela Cornish, Sharon Rose Robbins, Tatyana Glinsky, MJ Cruz, Anne Wilson, Cavali Mora, Katrina Woodard, Noelle Berryman, Dana Tingey, Meghan Labadie, Valerie Smith, William Kenna, Jennifer Murphy, Mindy Kolczynski, Kelly Mills, Marla Moloney, Geralyn Morris, Lucy Ridgway, LCSW, Lisa Wagstaffe, William Wagstaffe, Kelly Zetting, Sara Waide Bowers, Shenandoah Evans, Veronica Hatton, Tricia Belanger, Tennessee Safe Parents Organization, Yes, Emily, Lynn Wettach, James Wettach, Jessica Amendola, Liane M, Ana Isabel Soto, Kristie Hale, Natalie Pinkerton, Danielle Incontro, LaRee Diaz, Jessica Whitley, Amy, Dorit Reichental, Eunice Brownlee, Amy Short Armstead, Susan Redding, Kayla Marquis, Kerry Hewson, Nichole, Crystal S, Mel Mari, Keldah Hedstrom, Roxane Colburn, Aiyah, Katie, Suzanne Korkus, EL, Betsy Keller, Amy Tillman, Danielle, Laurie Burghart, Stephanie Ellis, Millicent Cellore, Janann Dempsey, Amber Johnson, Jennifer Galinsky, Lauren Brim, Elizabeth A. Haley, Tina Gonzalez, Marilyn Petry, Richard D. Edmundson, Teresita Vega, Shannon Jones, Nicole Amill, Anna Gushchin, Maura Ollo, Joan, Victoria Prescott, Rebecca Hart, Lauren Chaump, Tiffany Sutherland, Amanda Reeder, Andria Carter, Erik Edmundson, Amy Juzenas, Nicole, Christine Brosnan, Leesa, Julie Jacobson, Natalie Masson, Julie Boye, Shalise, Dr. Debra Wingfield, Kari Janiszewski, Elyse Christensen, Kandra Durfield, Cami Denney, Mariko Harman, Patricia Earl, Emma U, Amber Snodgrass, Breanna Weeks, Virginia Baca, Alli Myrick, L Cole, Nicole Hancock, Dana Johnson, Colin Heisey, Elizabeth DeZeeuw, Heather Smith, T Broussard, Gina Ludwig, Jackie Tomlinson, VALERIE VALDEZ, Naomi Johnson, Lena Bredikhina, Emily Chilton, Jennie Bowman, Heidi Burbank, Kristin, Ashlie Johnson, Taylor, Celeste Dargent, Kendall Overton, Tammy, Candence Jochim, Diana Buist, Abigail Buist Haverkamp, Bryn Buist Haverkamp, CJ, Kenneth Haverkamp, Sharon Haverkamp, LaRae Lobdell, David Leenhouts, Emery Lauten, M Harman, Ashana Kaiulani, Susan Wrathall, Holly Roeder, Deb, Richard Chapman, Jessica Motais, Rita White, Susan Rumble, Holly White, Susan Goodman Gallas, Amber Reynolds, Rene Woodland, Brionna, Sherina James, GINA BLOOM, Sally Cole, ANIQUE WOLF, Grant Hulteen, Meredith Thompson, Christine Kang, Kyle S., G.E. Sheets,  Lucas Sheets,  Leilia Haniloa, Kia Perez, Robert C Kaufhold, Megan Wiseman,  Sarah M., Nikita Evans, Virginia Tuscano, Samuel David, Emily Knight, Will Thai, Melinda Craig, Hilary Cutright,  Bree MacArthur,  Isabelle Latour, Christine Ruth, Elizabeth Stone, Melissa Romero,  Amy Hodor, Emma E., Monte Jewell, Barbara J Carpenter,  Jessica Zahrt, Melissa Hilts, Christine Allison, Melissa Herron, Kelsey Cobb, Barbara Mooers, Steven Mooers, Shirley Saltvick, Beverly Mooers, Rachel Starks,  Lindsay Dillon, Andrea Sanchez, Anne Vithayathil, Gina Wassyng, Kristine Patten, Danielle Heslington, Aliisa,  Jacqueline Quasney, Shanda Boyett, Molly scarce, Sybil Cummin, MA, LPC, ACS, Brigette Schroader,  Julie Perrine, Sheila Korth-Focken,  Laura Vaught,  Kari Liz Moody, Bhu Bains, Jorge Lumbreras, Erica Loose, April Clements, Charlyn Armstrong, Roberta Ralston, Emily Burke, Jen Larson, Patricia Carrion,  Amanda Ryan,  LaRee Diaz, Nicole Fisher, Tricia Singer-Romohr, Jenna Harrison, Stanton Cole Retired Family Law Attorney, Gracie Stokes,  Michaila Nolan, Tina Nguyen, Bonnie Chung, Amy Hopkins, Amy Richardson, Claire Richardson, Colin Richardson, Stephanie Holt, Brandon Jensen,  Holly marz, Emily R, Lisa Ishihara, Lisa Hamblin , Amber Myers, F Sethi, Lucy Dalhousie,  Katie,  Madeline nichas, Michelle Fox, Karen Topel, Helen Chung,  Mary Pyrah,  Stacia Caitlin, Jesse Janna, Michelle Jones, Suzette miranda,  Aiyah Amina, Condel, LaRae Lobdell,  Annie Finney, Christin, Travis, Lia Rebekah, Marion Hellen,  Eltina Nack,  Daniel W, Zyreena Choudhry,  Emily JoHannah, K. Hoff, Rebecca  Dean, Pappas, Pamela L, Hay Nande, Marin,  Kris Destiny, Sam Sultana,  Lanee, Karla Reyes, Ashley Ananda, Karla Reyes, Ashley, Ananda, Elizabeth Posthumus, Victoria Latka, Susan Grace, Danuta Sztuka, Mary Duncan, Svetlana Moody, Amy Annette, Gabriel Robinson, Amanda Madrid, Lisa Ly, Deana Anderson