Washington State
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research
BILL
ANALYSIS

Criminal Justice & Corrections Committee

HB 1746

Brief Description: Requiring arson offenders to register with the county sheriff.

Sponsors: Representatives Holmquist, O'Brien, Hinkle, Lantz, Woods, Ahern, Cox, Simpson, Sump, Kagi, McDonald, Haler, Newhouse, McCune, Kretz, Serben, Clements, Condotta, Roach, Pearson, Kirby, Bailey, Strow, Williams, Moeller, Kenney and Kristiansen.

Brief Summary of Bill
  • Requires arson offenders convicted, or found not guilty by reason of insanity, of arson in the first and second degree to register with the county sheriff.

Hearing Date: 2/15/05

Staff: Kathryn Leathers (786-7114).

Background:

Arson in the first degree is a class A felony with a seriousness level of VIII. Arson in the second degree is a class B felony, with a seriousness level of IV.

Arson in the first degree: Arson in the first degree is committed when a person knowingly and maliciously: (a) causes a fire or explosion which is manifestly dangerous to any human life, including firefighters; or (b) causes a fire or explosion which damages a dwelling; or (c) causes a fire or explosion in any building in which there shall be at the time a human being who is not a participant in the crime; or (d) causes a fire or explosion on property valued at $10,000 or more with intent to collect insurance proceeds.
   
Arson in the second degree: Arson in the second degree is committed when he or she knowingly and maliciously causes a fire or explosion which damages a building, or any structure or erection appurtenant to or joining any building, or any wharf, dock, machine, engine, automobile, or other motor vehicle, watercraft, aircraft, bridge, or trestle, or hay, grain, crop, or timber, whether cut or standing, or any range land, or pasture land, or any fence, or any lumber, shingle, or other timber products, or any property.

Convicted first and second degree arsonists in this state are not required to register with a law enforcement agency upon release.

Summary of Bill:

Requires arson offenders convicted, or found not guilty by reason of insanity, of arson in the first and second degree to register with the county sheriff in a manner similar to the current registration requirements for sex offenders and kidnapping offenders.

Registration Requirements
An initial registration must be made in person at the proper county sheriff's office, however the registration requirements vary depending on the individual offender's status. For example:

Other registration requirements imposed following the initial registration include:

Violations of the Duty to Register
Failure to register within the subscribed deadlines is a per se violation. Violation of the duty to register is a class C felony. Any person charged with failure to register who asserts as a defense the lack of notice of the duty to register shall register immediately following actual notice of the duty (provided by the arrest, service, or arraignment). Registering following an arrest, however, does not relieve the offender from criminal liability for failure to register prior to the filing of the original charge. An offender may only be relieved of the duty to register by a court through a petition process.

Affirmative Defenses
It is an affirmative defense to a charge that a person failed to register within the deadlines if: (a) the person was not under the jurisdiction of the Department of Corrections, the Indeterminate Sentence Review Board, or the Department of Social and Health Services at the time of moving to Washington; (b) the person was unaware of his or her duty to register; (c) it was reasonable for the person to be unaware of his or her duty to register; and (d) the person registered within 24 hours of receiving notice of his or her duty to register from a law enforcement official. The defendant must establish the defense by a preponderance of the evidence.

It is also an affirmative defense to a charge of failure to register that: (a) the charge of failure to register is based solely on an out-of-state conviction that would require a person to register in Washington if he or she had been convicted in Washington; (b) the person who is charged works, carries on a vocation, or attends school in Washington but resides in another state; (c) the person was unaware of his or her duty to register in Washington; (d) it was reasonable for the person to be unaware of his or her duty to register in Washington; and (e) the person registered in Washington within 24 hours of receiving notice of his or her duty to register from a law enforcement official. The defendant must establish the defense by a preponderance of the evidence.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Preliminary fiscal note available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.