[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6109036,"mediaKeyId","2764977-531e844a0e9e6c81cbec972fa55f11fc","parentId",2764977,"title","Committee hears bill to require open- and closed-caption screenings at theaters","audioSeconds",1281,"startMs",141000,"endMs",1422000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2764977-531e844a0e9e6c81cbec972fa55f11fc&start=141&end=1422","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2764977-531e844a0e9e6c81cbec972fa55f11fc/thumbnail_141000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6109036/Washington/Committee-hears-bill-to-require-open-and-closed-caption-screenings-at-theaters","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6109036-8bc569e754744b25c8a01e2cf11b8ef3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437383&Signature=njxoprKE1Lz3cf7ROFZYsgb4jCbXXJEhiZQ~n1fFUngdxELfOBOGSTdcAnAhB1z0wisCALUvZ8-WoxzZs7KcMXvaYagyPLaxHfPoB~jTwOr4tD3vSwX90YwjvDxI2bOf96Jv2vzTJidHMx0MCsWoYmr8CI0ch6cds-bymj81OanvqNeL1EQF6~LB5kzpSJSSDZYf2T558OILNplpDUnf9oN-RDZcG3wqTgNiM3OyUWQGXM7HPF5zpnp6kewfs1V1LX9Tl1aVG9hPhnJxYqlr9zne-lJuy2Hx-JUhcAlGh3mvoIqa8SCTgYg-AE1u87dckBa1TiczoXDGmeZVZo0RLQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Washington Legislature","date","2025-03-25T00:00:00Z","article","Senate Bill 5,486 would require movie theaters to provide open-caption screenings and working closed-caption technology for films that are produced and distributed with caption files, supporters told the Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee on March 25, 2025.

The bill, described in a staff briefing by John Brzezinski, would require companies that control, operate, own, or lease five or more theaters in Washington to schedule a minimum number of open-caption screenings for qualifying films: at least two open-caption screenings per week during the first two weeks of release (one of which must be on a weekend) and at least one open-caption screening per week during subsequent weeks in peak hours. Smaller companies (four or fewer theaters) would not face the same scheduled minimums but would have to provide an open-caption screening within five calendar days after receiving a request. The bill would not apply to drive‑in theaters and would require theaters to post contact information, advertise open-caption showtimes, and retain documentation of compliance for at least one year, Brzezinski said.

Why it matters: Supporters said open captions give people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or who speak English as a second language an equal, shared movie-going experience and avoid the practical problems of individual closed‑caption devices. \"We really wanted to express our strong support for this bill,\" Karen Atwood, president of the Washington State Association of the Deaf, told the committee. \"It really allows us to have and experience joy in the theaters and for us to see movies just like anyone else does.\" Cynthia Stewart of the Hearing Loss Association of Washington said captions improve comprehension and called the measure \"a huge difference for people with hearing loss.\"

Industry perspective: Bruce Gardner, executive director of the Pacific Northwest Theater Owners Association, said theaters already provide captioning at many screenings and do not charge extra for open-caption shows. Gardner told the committee his members offer \"over a thousand open caption screenings each week in the state of Washington\" and asked that the bill extend the five‑day response window for requests to eight days to allow time to obtain distributed caption files and schedule screenings.

Committee discussion focused on implementation details and questions about whether theaters charge extra for caption services; staff said the bill is silent on a separate charge. Sponsor Senator Tina Orwall said the measure is intended to standardize access across the state and to address inconsistent website and advertising practices that leave some patrons unaware of available captioned showings.

The committee opened public testimony and heard supportive remarks from disability advocates and technical questions from representatives; no committee vote or amendment was recorded in the hearing transcript.

Ending: Proponents asked the committee to pass the bill to ensure consistent, statewide access to captioning; industry witnesses supported parts of the bill but asked for the five‑day request window to be extended to eight days. The hearing record does not show a final vote.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Civil Rights & Judiciary 10:30 AM March 25, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Senate Bill 5,486 would require movie theaters to provide open-caption screenings and working closed-caption technology for films that are produced and distributed with caption files, supporters told the Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee on March 25, 2025.","taxTitle","Civil Rights & Judiciary, House of Representatives, Legislative Sessions, Washington","taxId",20256,"location","Washington","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6109027,"Bill would let counties request state public defense for Involuntary Treatment Act cases",1518,1779000,3297000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2764977-531e844a0e9e6c81cbec972fa55f11fc&start=1779&end=3297","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2764977-531e844a0e9e6c81cbec972fa55f11fc/thumbnail_1779000.jpg","/articles/6109027/Washington/Bill-would-let-counties-request-state-public-defense-for-Involuntary-Treatment-Act-cases","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6109027-d5f35598aaa5c2290239e379f7413630/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437383&Signature=T5TjmTvKcbjZhWL6wGBtZPgBb0ioiFoBqmcQLK9GdNasaMKUo4NRnTcD5~Wp7Itz~~XVMhpVBKjRReRHm4qcz2shrBxdDahS3mIEHg5fMoqGwjuXhWIA5G2QVK6q4VuSngux6V19YciRb-rVF-znVI4vT2Z2n7WKGW~bCCKPZi8auvN0QgaVFGgyJtzTnrH8V95231pnnkhboeaTgXBKDClIobocnQUOIKkTpDhQ1DpfFoIE19NXnsLyhUVzc1hg2xzQQr5AN1kAXGyCJiRpX2oeBN9iryadV6CJGMRrJH8ZSiF4QPW~fDUWJPJXjXoZtPYcGjhuEVDCZDcwidxNfA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 5,745 would change how appointed counsel is provided in Involuntary Treatment Act (ITA) cases by clarifying responsibilities when a person detained under the ITA is held in non‑state hospitals and new state facilities, witnesses told the Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee on March 25, 2025.

Committee staff Dee Dee Adams said the bill makes the county where a person is detained responsible for administering appointed counsel regardless of the person’s county of origin. The county could (1) provide or contract for counsel directly; (2) request that the county's Health Care Authority contract with the Office of Public Defense (OPD) to provide counsel on the county's behalf; or (3) contract privately for defense services. If HCA contracts with OPD, the bill would reduce the funding provided to the county's behavioral health administrative services organization (BHASO) by an amount equal to the OPD contract cost; that BHASO could still seek reimbursement from the BHASO serving the person's county of residence, Adams said.

Sponsor Senator Manka Dhingra said the bill is aimed at new state facilities created as part of efforts to expand civil treatment capacity and does not change existing law for state hospitals (which she identified as Western State Hospital, Eastern State Hospital and the Child Study and Treatment Center). Dhingra said the measure provides counties options because of workforce and capacity issues among public‑defense providers; King County had requested OPD assistance for patients at a new UW facility, she said.

Support and concerns: The Office of Public Defense told the committee it has an existing forensic civil‑commitment unit and supports providing counsel statewide where counties cannot meet the need. UW Medicine urged the committee to pass the bill, saying admissions to its new Center for Behavioral Health and Learning were paused briefly in fall 2024 when King County public defenders were not available; UW said it has resumed admissions and asked for legal clarity to avoid future interruptions. The governor’s office testified in support as well.

King County officials, however, told the committee they continue to have concerns. Joe McDermott said the county supports clarifying responsibility but warned that the bill would still make counties ultimately responsible if OPD cannot provide services; counties would be reimbursed for direct costs only, while OPD would receive full recoupment if it were contracted by HCA. King County recommended a more streamlined state-funded approach with OPD providing services directly and the state assuming full funding.

Ending: The bill was presented as a targeted fix to ensure new state facilities can receive patients without losing access to appointed counsel; sponsors and state officials said work remains on broader ITA fiscal and capacity issues.","Senate Bill 5,745 would clarify which party is responsible for providing appointed counsel when a person is detained under the Involuntary Treatment Act and allow counties three options for securing counsel: provide local counsel, contract privately, or request the Health Care Authority to arrange Office of Public Defense representation.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":80,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6109033,"Clerks tell committee aligning exhibit-retention periods will reduce errors",1750,29000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2764977-531e844a0e9e6c81cbec972fa55f11fc&start=29&end=1779","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2764977-531e844a0e9e6c81cbec972fa55f11fc/thumbnail_29000.jpg","/articles/6109033/Washington/Clerks-tell-committee-aligning-exhibit-retention-periods-will-reduce-errors","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6109033-0891b44d131cda068bd66c1c8180ec1b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437383&Signature=JhNSkBqigP~4Cg0AWWy1~~EOlVpmbN~0DibGTMhnvZ2xjYaPxjvj4MoxGJWNmjW8O8v8BWpHg-v5kqcgS66EqmYUbSxsc8LDuI9ZJ4Pq5B5hrrDCYBBA5avTdVAXOLEWXErA8DUnWnUFLO6XN8QAkB8ailgviD9gHwijgsuJ4ZNGnhRo2AhTVQGwN964S5LiJlg2S4tFaXGzHJWP85n0z0fpIGzZjOPBVmWLDHxAPfH9hEyHPqGYB2wjTwBkJcXy0ExdghXEJC14Dx~5~ROG011l0GiAjK7DHaXa~MA~Dbg7G5XMLByM2blAxbPGZnlT0D6NTJDx4fUfFv4SCjf6-A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 5,021 would reduce the statutory retention period for most court exhibits from six years to five years so both categories of records are governed by the same timeline, supporters and county clerks told the Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee on March 25, 2025.

For the record, Matt Sterling, staff to the committee, summarized current practice: county clerks maintain case files and exhibits, return items of value to sheriffs as unclaimed property, and may destroy some materials after a statutory retention period; reporter notes in criminal cases and exhibits of historical value are preserved for longer periods. The bill would make the general retention period five years, bringing it into alignment with the more recent five‑year standard that already applies to some documents, Sterling said.

County clerks who testified said the alignment would simplify recordkeeping and reduce the chance of mistakes. Catherine Cornwall, King County Clerk, said having two different destruction schedules forces staff to revisit cases at different intervals and increases the risk of error. Spokane County Clerk Tim Fitzgerald described the practical process: clerks seek a court order before destroying an exhibit, give prosecutors and attorneys the opportunity to reclaim nonproperty exhibits, and retain items that are high‑visibility, historical, or might be needed on appeal — \"I have exhibits in Spokane County back to 1878,\" Fitzgerald said.

Why it matters: Clerks and the Washington Association of County Officials, which described the bill as a \"good government\" measure, said the change reduces administrative complexity. Michael Shaw, testifying for the Washington Association of County Officials, noted the bill had already passed the Senate: \"It passed 49 out of the Senate,\" he said.

The committee heard no formal amendments or votes in the March 25 hearing. Witnesses emphasized that exhibits requiring long-term preservation — for example, capital‑murder or forensic evidence — would continue to be retained as required under existing case‑by‑case rules.

Ending: Supporters asked the committee to move the bill to ensure clerks can apply a single, easier-to-compute five-year standard; no final committee action appears in the hearing record.","Senate Bill 5,021 would change the retention period for court exhibits from six to five years to align conflicting statutes, clerks told the Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee; clerks said the change would reduce duplicate processing and the risk of errors.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee hears bill to require open- and closed-caption screenings at theaters

Bill would let counties request state public defense for Involuntary Treatment Act cases

Clerks tell committee aligning exhibit-retention periods will reduce errors