Official Text and Analysis.

Creates the Office of Firearm Violence Prevention within the Department of Commerce.

(1) Removes provision related to the duty of the office to research, identify, and recommend legislative policy options to promote the implementation of statewide evidence-based firearm violence intervention and prevention strategies; (2) Removes provision related to the duty of the office to research, identify, and apply for nonstate funding to aid the in research, analysis, and implementation of statewide firearm violence intervention and prevention strategies.

Adds to the duties of the office a focus on reducing instances of firearm deaths by suicide (which comprise 75% of firearm deaths in Washington over the last five years). Initial report to Legislature must include efforts and progress in reducing firearm deaths by suicide.

Renames office the Office of Safety and Violence Prevention. Expands focus to violence prevention of all types.

Prohibits the Washington office of firearm violence prevention from awarding program grants to any community-based organization owned by a billionaire.

(1) Authorizes the office of firearm violence prevention to contract for a statewide helpline and referral service for gun violence victims and others impacted by gun violence and professionals who provide services for gun violence victims in their community. (2) Authorizes the office of firearm violence prevention to contract for a best practice guide for therapy for gun violence victims. (3) Adds firearm safety to duties of the office. (4) Adds suicide prevention to the purpose of the grant program.

1) Revises program's purpose to promote safe firearm practices and support firearm safety initiatives. (2) Renames the grant program "Washington firearm safety grant program.".

Adds law enforcement agencies in cities that are disproportionately impacted by violence to the organizations eligible to receive a program grant.

Replaces "evidence-based" with "scientific, peer- reviewed" firearm violence intervention and prevention strategies.

Requires the office of firearm violence prevention to work with specified groups to establish a firearms safety program for school-aged children in prekindergarten through grade 12.

Modifies the legislative findings to specify that organized gang violence disproportionately impacts low-income communities and communities of color.

Adds Indian tribes and tribal organizations to the list of entities to which program grant funds may be distributed.

Gives grant award preference to law enforcement agencies impacted by firearm violence against officers, in addition to applicants whose proposals demonstrate the greatest likelihood of reducing firearm violence in the applicant's community.

Specifies that the community-based organizations to which program grant funds may be distributed are those primarily dedicated to community safety, victims' rights, or violence prevention.

Modifies the duties of the Office of Firearm Safety and Violence Prevention to exclude recommending legislative policy options, and to specify that such options address (rather than promote) implementation of certain strategies.

Adds coordination with Forefront Suicide Prevention to expand access to suicide prevention trainings to the duties of the office.

Prohibits the use of grants for any firearm buy-back program or other initiative that involves using taxpayer funds for the physical reduction of firearms.

Changes the Washington Firearm Violence Intervention and Prevention grant program into performance-based contracts and tasks the Office of Firearm Safety and Violence Prevention with developing metrics to ensure contracts achieve a reduction in firearm-related violence in the community served.

Modifies the duties of the Office of Firearm Safety and Violence Prevention to specify that certain firearm violence intervention and prevention strategies be scientific and peer-reviewed (rather than evidence-based).

Removes the reference to mass incarceration in provision related to grant proposals reducing firearm violence in the applicant's community.

Adds a focus on firearm safety, to include preventing firearm misfires from faulty ammunition, as an additional duty of the Office of Firearm Safety and Violence Prevention. Includes duds, squibs, stovepipes, failure to feed, and barrel obstruction as examples of faulty ammunition.

Adds a focus on the reduction in the instances of firearm deaths by suicide to the duties of the office. Provides that the initial report to the legislature must include efforts and progress on the reduction of firearm deaths by suicide.

Modifies the purpose of the grant program to include supporting effective firearm violence reduction initiatives in communities that are disproportionately affected by gang-related activity.

(1) Creates an oversight board established by the Department of Commerce with 12 members consisting of: members of the legislature; representatives from the firearm, firearm responsibility, and constitutional rights community; law enforcement; tribal representatives; and citizens from Eastern and Western Washington. (2) Provides that the purpose of the board is to oversee and monitor the Office of Firearm Safety and Violence Prevention and ensure fidelity and accountability to its stated statutory purpose. (3) Requires the board to meet twice a year and report to the Governor and the Legislature annually, with an initial report due December 1, 2020.

Changes the name of the office to the Washington Office of Firearm Safety, Suicide, and Violence Prevention, instead of the Washington Office of Firearm Safety and Violence Prevention.

Changes the name of the Washington Firearm Violence Intervention and Prevention Grant Program to the Washington Firearm Safety, Suicide, and Violence Intervention and Prevention Grant Program.