New laws went into effect July 23

OLYMPIA - July 23 marked the date when several laws went into effect this year.

Four of these new laws are based on bills prime-sponsored by 4th District Sen. Mike Padden.

A law given the title ‘Kimberly Bender’s law’ was created through Senate Bill 5033 and reclassifies the crime of first-degree custodial sexual misconduct.

This law is effective in situations in which a corrections officer has sexual intercourse with the victim.

“We really need to make sure that our correctional officers and guards are fulfilling their duties responsibly first of all,” Padden said. “But when they offend they...