BILL REQ. #:  H-0771.1 

Read first time 01/17/11.   Referred to Committee on Public Safety & Emergency Preparedness.

     AN ACT Relating to secure community transition facilities; and amending RCW 71.09.090, 71.09.092, and 71.09.305.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 71.09.090 and 2010 1st sp.s. c 28 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) If the secretary determines that the person's condition has so changed that either: (a) The person no longer meets the definition of a sexually violent predator; or (b) conditional release to a less restrictive alternative is in the best interest of the person and conditions can be imposed that adequately protect the community, the secretary shall authorize the person to petition the court for conditional release to a less restrictive alternative or unconditional discharge. The petition shall be filed with the court and served upon the prosecuting agency responsible for the initial commitment. The court, upon receipt of the petition for conditional release to a less restrictive alternative or unconditional discharge, shall within forty-five days order a hearing.
     (2)(a) Nothing contained in this chapter shall prohibit the person from otherwise petitioning the court for conditional release to a less restrictive alternative or unconditional discharge without the secretary's approval. The secretary shall provide the committed person with an annual written notice of the person's right to petition the court for conditional release to a less restrictive alternative or unconditional discharge over the secretary's objection. The notice shall contain a waiver of rights. The secretary shall file the notice and waiver form and the annual report with the court. If the person does not affirmatively waive the right to petition, the court shall set a show cause hearing to determine whether probable cause exists to warrant a hearing on whether the person's condition has so changed that: (i) He or she no longer meets the definition of a sexually violent predator; or (ii) conditional release to a proposed less restrictive alternative would be in the best interest of the person and conditions can be imposed that would adequately protect the community.
     (b) The committed person shall have a right to have an attorney represent him or her at the show cause hearing, which may be conducted solely on the basis of affidavits or declarations, but the person is not entitled to be present at the show cause hearing. At the show cause hearing, the prosecuting attorney or attorney general shall present prima facie evidence establishing that the committed person continues to meet the definition of a sexually violent predator and that a less restrictive alternative is not in the best interest of the person and conditions cannot be imposed that adequately protect the community. In making this showing, the state may rely exclusively upon the annual report prepared pursuant to RCW 71.09.070. The committed person may present responsive affidavits or declarations to which the state may reply.
     (c) If the court at the show cause hearing determines that either: (i) The state has failed to present prima facie evidence that the committed person continues to meet the definition of a sexually violent predator and that no proposed less restrictive alternative is in the best interest of the person and conditions cannot be imposed that would adequately protect the community; or (ii) probable cause exists to believe that the person's condition has so changed that: (A) The person no longer meets the definition of a sexually violent predator; or (B) release to a proposed less restrictive alternative would be in the best interest of the person and conditions can be imposed that would adequately protect the community, then the court shall set a hearing on either or both issues.
     (d) If the court has not previously considered the issue of release to a less restrictive alternative, either through a trial on the merits or through the procedures set forth in RCW 71.09.094(1), the court shall consider whether release to a less restrictive alternative would be in the best interests of the person and conditions can be imposed that would adequately protect the community, without considering whether the person's condition has changed. The court may not find probable cause for a trial addressing less restrictive alternatives unless a proposed less restrictive alternative placement meeting the conditions of RCW 71.09.092 is presented to the court at the show cause hearing.
     (3) If the secretary has not authorized the person to petition the court pursuant to subsection (1) of this section, and if the person and the prosecuting agency have retained experts who agree that conditional release to a secure community transition facility is in the best interests of the person and conditions can be imposed that would adequately protect the community, the person and the prosecuting agency may jointly petition the court for a hearing.
     (4)(a) At the hearing resulting from subsection (1) or (2) of this section, the committed person shall be entitled to be present and to the benefit of all constitutional protections that were afforded to the person at the initial commitment proceeding. The prosecuting agency shall represent the state and shall have a right to a jury trial and to have the committed person evaluated by experts chosen by the state. The department is responsible for the cost of one expert or professional person to conduct an evaluation on the prosecuting agency's behalf. The committed person shall also have the right to a jury trial and the right to have experts evaluate him or her on his or her behalf and the court shall appoint an expert if the person is indigent and requests an appointment.
     (b) Whenever any person is subjected to an evaluation under (a) of this subsection, the department is responsible for the cost of one expert or professional person conducting an evaluation on the person's behalf. When the person wishes to be evaluated by a qualified expert or professional person of his or her own choice, such expert or professional person must be permitted to have reasonable access to the person for the purpose of such evaluation, as well as to all relevant medical and psychological records and reports. In the case of a person who is indigent, the court shall, upon the person's request, assist the person in obtaining an expert or professional person to perform an evaluation or participate in the hearing on the person's behalf. Nothing in this chapter precludes the person from paying for additional expert services at his or her own expense.
     (c) If the issue at the hearing is whether the person should be unconditionally discharged, the burden of proof shall be upon the state to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the committed person's condition remains such that the person continues to meet the definition of a sexually violent predator. Evidence of the prior commitment trial and disposition is admissible. The recommitment proceeding shall otherwise proceed as set forth in RCW 71.09.050 and 71.09.060.
     (d) If the issue at the hearing is whether the person should be conditionally released to a less restrictive alternative, the burden of proof at the hearing shall be upon the state to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that conditional release to any proposed less restrictive alternative either: (i) Is not in the best interest of the committed person; or (ii) does not include conditions that would adequately protect the community. Evidence of the prior commitment trial and disposition is admissible.
     (e) If the issue at the hearing is whether the person should be conditionally released to a secure community transition facility pursuant to a petition filed under subsection (3) of this section, the court shall determine whether conditional release to a secure community transition facility is in the best interests of the person and conditions can be imposed that would adequately protect the community.
     (((4))) (5)(a) Probable cause exists to believe that a person's condition has "so changed," under subsection (2) of this section, only when evidence exists, since the person's last commitment trial, or less restrictive alternative revocation proceeding, of a substantial change in the person's physical or mental condition such that the person either no longer meets the definition of a sexually violent predator or that a conditional release to a less restrictive alternative is in the person's best interest and conditions can be imposed to adequately protect the community.
     (b) A new trial proceeding under subsection (((3))) (4) of this section may be ordered, or a trial proceeding may be held, only when there is current evidence from a licensed professional of one of the following and the evidence presents a change in condition since the person's last commitment trial proceeding:
     (i) An identified physiological change to the person, such as paralysis, stroke, or dementia, that renders the committed person unable to commit a sexually violent act and this change is permanent; or
     (ii) A change in the person's mental condition brought about through positive response to continuing participation in treatment which indicates that the person meets the standard for conditional release to a less restrictive alternative or that the person would be safe to be at large if unconditionally released from commitment.
     (c) For purposes of this section, a change in a single demographic factor, without more, does not establish probable cause for a new trial proceeding under subsection (((3))) (4) of this section. As used in this section, a single demographic factor includes, but is not limited to, a change in the chronological age, marital status, or gender of the committed person.
     (((5))) (6) The jurisdiction of the court over a person civilly committed pursuant to this chapter continues until such time as the person is unconditionally discharged.

Sec. 2   RCW 71.09.092 and 2009 c 409 s 9 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, before the court may enter an order directing conditional release to a less restrictive alternative, it must find the following: (((1))) (a) The person will be treated by a treatment provider who is qualified to provide such treatment in the state of Washington under chapter 18.155 RCW; (((2))) (b) the treatment provider has presented a specific course of treatment and has agreed to assume responsibility for such treatment and will report progress to the court on a regular basis, and will report violations immediately to the court, the prosecutor, the supervising community corrections officer, and the superintendent of the special commitment center; (((3))) (c) housing exists in Washington that is sufficiently secure to protect the community, and the person or agency providing housing to the conditionally released person has agreed in writing to accept the person, to provide the level of security required by the court, and immediately to report to the court, the prosecutor, the supervising community corrections officer, and the superintendent of the special commitment center if the person leaves the housing to which he or she has been assigned without authorization; (((4))) (d) the person is willing to comply with the treatment provider and all requirements imposed by the treatment provider and by the court; and (((5))) (e) the person will be under the supervision of the department of corrections and is willing to comply with supervision requirements imposed by the department of corrections.
     (2) The court may enter an order directing conditional release to a secure community transition facility pursuant to RCW 71.09.090(3) when it finds that subsections (1)(a), (b), (d), and (e) of this section are met.

Sec. 3   RCW 71.09.305 and 2002 c 68 s 6 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Unless otherwise ordered by the court:
     (a) Residents of a secure community transition facility shall wear electronic monitoring devices at all times. To the extent that electronic monitoring devices that employ global positioning system technology are available and funds for this purpose are appropriated by the legislature, the department shall use these devices.
     (b) Except as provided in (c) of this subsection, at least one staff member, or other court-authorized and department-approved person must escort each resident when the resident leaves the secure community transition facility for appointments, employment, or other approved activities. Escorting persons must supervise the resident closely and maintain close proximity to the resident. The escort must immediately notify the department of any serious violation, as defined in RCW 71.09.325, by the resident and must immediately notify law enforcement of any violation of law by the resident. The escort may not be a relative of the resident or a person with whom the resident has, or has had, a dating relationship as defined in RCW 26.50.010.
     (c) A resident may leave the secure community transition facility without an escort if:
     (i) The resident has progressed in treatment to the point that a significant change in routine will not cause the resident to regress to the point that the resident presents a greater risk to the community;
     (ii) The secretary has provided prior written approval for the activity; and
     (iii) The resident wears an electronic monitoring device at all times.
     (2) Staff members of the special commitment center and any other total confinement facility and any secure community transition facility must be trained in self-defense and appropriate crisis responses including incident de-escalation. Prior to escorting a person outside of a facility, staff members must also have training in the offense pattern of the offender they are escorting.
     (3) Any escort must carry a cellular telephone or a similar device at all times when escorting a resident of a secure community transition facility.
     (4) The department shall require training in offender pattern, self-defense, and incident response for all court-authorized escorts who are not employed by the department or the department of corrections.