READ FIRST TIME 02/25/11.   

     AN ACT Relating to the deportation of criminal alien offenders; amending RCW 9.94A.685 and 10.40.200; adding a new section to chapter 9.94A RCW; and declaring an emergency.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 9.94A.685 and 1993 c 419 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Subject to the limitations of this section, any alien offender committed to the custody of the department under the sentencing reform act of 1981, chapter 9.94A RCW, who has been found by the United States attorney general to be subject to a final order of deportation or exclusion, may be placed on conditional release status and released to the immigration and ((naturalization service)) customs enforcement agency for deportation at any time prior to the expiration of the offender's term of confinement. Conditional release shall continue until the expiration of the statutory maximum sentence provided by law for the crime or crimes of which the offender was convicted. If the offender has multiple current convictions, the statutory maximum sentence allowed by law for each crime shall run concurrently.
     (2) No offender may be released under this section unless the secretary or the secretary's designee ((find [finds] that such release is in the best interests of the state of Washington. Further, releases under this section may occur only with the approval of the sentencing court and the prosecuting attorney of the county of conviction)) has reached an agreement with the immigration and customs enforcement agency that the alien offender placed on conditional release status will be detained in total confinement at a facility operated by the immigration and customs enforcement agency pending the offender's return to the country of origin or other location designated in the final deportation or exclusion order.
     (((3))) No offender may be released under this section who is serving a sentence for a violent offense or sex offense, as defined in RCW 9.94A.030((, or any other offense that is a crime against a person)).
     (((4))) (3) The unserved portion of the term of confinement of any offender released under this section shall be tolled at the time the offender is released to the immigration and ((naturalization service)) customs enforcement agency for deportation. Upon the release of an offender to the immigration and ((naturalization service)) customs enforcement agency, the department shall issue a warrant for the offender's arrest within the United States. This warrant shall remain in effect ((until the expiration of the offender's conditional release)) indefinitely.
     (((5))) (4) Upon arrest of an offender, the department ((shall)) may seek extradition as necessary and the offender ((shall)) may be returned to the department for completion of the unserved portion of the offender's term of total confinement. If returned, the offender shall also be required to fully comply with all the terms and conditions of the sentence.
     (((6))) (5) Alien offenders released to the immigration and ((naturalization service)) customs enforcement agency for deportation under this section are not thereby relieved of their obligation to pay restitution or other legal financial obligations ordered by the sentencing court.
     (((7))) (6) Any offender released pursuant to this section who returns illegally to the United States may not thereafter be released again pursuant to this section.
     (((8))) (7) The secretary is authorized to take all reasonable actions to implement this section and shall assist federal authorities in prosecuting alien offenders who may illegally reenter the United States and enter the state of Washington.
     (8) The provisions of this section apply to persons convicted before, on, or after the effective date of this section.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 9.94A RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The department shall provide a written notice of rights in removal proceedings to all offenders in the department's custody who are subject to early release pursuant to RCW 9.94A.685. The notice shall be provided as early in the removal process as feasible.
     (2) The department shall work in conjunction with a qualified nonprofit legal services organization in the state recognized by the department of justice pursuant to 8 C.F.R. 1003.61, to create the written notice required by subsection (1) of this section. A written notice containing the advisals given to an individual at the first master calendar hearing in a removal proceeding meets the requirements of this section.

Sec. 3   RCW 10.40.200 and 1983 c 199 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The legislature finds and declares that in many instances involving an individual who is not a citizen of the United States charged with an offense punishable as a crime under state law, a plea of guilty is entered without the defendant knowing that a conviction of such offense is grounds for deportation, exclusion from admission to the United States, or denial of naturalization pursuant to the laws of the United States. Therefore, it is the intent of the legislature in enacting this section to promote fairness to such accused individuals by requiring in such cases that acceptance of a guilty plea be preceded by an appropriate warning of the special consequences for such a defendant which may result from the plea. It is further the intent of the legislature that at the time of the plea no defendant be required to disclose his or her legal status to the court.
     (2) Prior to acceptance of a plea of guilty to any offense punishable as a crime under state law, except offenses designated as infractions under state law, the court shall determine that the defendant has been advised of the following potential consequences of conviction for a defendant who is not a citizen of the United States: Deportation, exclusion from admission to the United States, or denial of naturalization pursuant to the laws of the United States. A defendant signing a guilty plea statement containing the advisement required by this subsection shall be presumed to have received the required advisement. If, after September 1, 1983, the defendant has not been advised as required by this section and the defendant shows that conviction of the offense to which the defendant pleaded guilty may have the consequences for the defendant of deportation, exclusion from admission to the United States, or denial of naturalization pursuant to the laws of the United States, the court, on defendant's motion, shall vacate the judgment and permit the defendant to withdraw the plea of guilty and enter a plea of not guilty. Absent a written acknowledgement by the defendant of the advisement required by this subsection, the defendant shall be presumed not to have received the required advisement.
     (3) With respect to pleas accepted prior to September 1, 1983, it is not the intent of the legislature that a defendant's failure to receive the advisement required by subsection (2) of this section should require the vacation of judgment and withdrawal of the plea or constitute grounds for finding a prior conviction invalid.
     (4) Prior to acceptance of a plea of guilty to any offense punishable as a crime under state law, except offenses designated as infractions under state law, the court shall advise the defendant that, pursuant to RCW 9.94A.685, the defendant may be subject to early release from custody for removal from the United States as a consequence of conviction and that the defendant may be able to contest a removal order.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately.