FINAL BILL REPORT

SSB 6402

C 126 L 02

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Providing for legal financial obligation deductions from inmate funds and wages.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Human Services & Corrections (originally sponsored by Senators Costa, Long, Thibaudeau and Kline).

Senate Committee on Human Services & Corrections

House Committee on Criminal Justice & Corrections

Background:  A court ordered legal financial obligation (LFO) is a sum of money that is ordered by a superior court for payment of restitution to a victim, crime victims' compensation fee, court costs, a county or interlocal drug fund, court-appointed attorneys' fees and costs of defense, fines  and any other legal financial obligation that is assessed as a result of a felony conviction.  Taxes and LFOs must be deducted from inmate correctional industries wages.

The Secretary of the Department of Corrections is responsible for developing a formula for the distribution of offender wages and gratuities.  The offender has deductions made from his or her wages which go to the following funds:  public safety and education account (PSEA) for crime victims' compensation, personal savings, and cost of incarceration.  Depending upon the type of employment (class I - IV industries), a minimum is set for each account.

Class I correctional industries are those programs in which private sector companies set up their businesses within a state corrections facility.  Class II correctional industries are businesses owned and operated by the state, producing goods and services for tax supported and nonprofit organizations.

Summary:  Legal financial obligations must be deducted from an inmate's gross wages or gratuities in addition to those deductions for PSEA, personal savings, and cost of incarceration, without exception.  Whether employed in class I or class II  industries, a minimum of  20 percent of the inmate's gross wages is deducted for payment of an LFO in any Washington State superior court.  Inmates in state work release facilities must have 10 percent of their wages deducted for the same purpose.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate470

House930

Effective:  June 13, 2002