H-4283.1          _______________________________________________

 

                            SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 2349

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State of Washington              52nd Legislature             1992 Regular Session

 

By House Committee on Revenue (originally sponsored by Representatives Ludwig, Paris, Appelwick, Riley, Broback, Locke, Winsley and O'Brien; by request of Washington State Patrol)

 

Read first time 01/28/92.  Creating a crime laboratory analysis fee.


     AN ACT Relating to the state crime laboratory system; and adding new sections to chapter 43.43 RCW.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

 

     NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1.      The legislature declares that it is the policy of the state that persons convicted of certain crimes shall pay costs associated with the scientific analysis of forensic evidence.

 

     NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2.      As used in section 3 of this act, "crime laboratory" means any laboratory operated by the Washington state patrol in the crime laboratory system created by RCW 43.43.670.

 

     NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3.      (1) When a person has been adjudged guilty of violating any criminal statute of this state and a crime laboratory analysis was performed by a state crime laboratory, in addition to any other disposition, penalty, or fine imposed, the court shall levy a crime laboratory analysis fee of one hundred dollars for each offense for which the person was convicted.  Upon a verified petition by the person assessed the fee, the court may suspend payment of all or part of the fee if it finds that the person does not have the ability to pay the fee.

     (2) When a minor has been adjudicated a juvenile offender for an offense which, if committed by an adult, would constitute a violation of any criminal statute of this state and a crime laboratory analysis was performed, in addition to any other disposition imposed, the court shall assess a crime laboratory analysis fee of one hundred dollars for each adjudication.  Upon a verified petition by a minor assessed the fee, the court may suspend payment of all or part of the fee it finds that the minor does not have the ability to pay the fee.

     (3) All crime laboratory analysis fees assessed under this section shall be collected by the clerk of the court and forwarded to the state general fund, to be used only for crime laboratories.  The clerk may retain five dollars to defray the costs of collecting the fees.

 

     NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4.      Sections 1 through 3 of this act are each added to chapter 43.43 RCW.