S-2377               _______________________________________________

                                         SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL NO. 3224

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State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1985 Regular Session

By Senate Committee on Judiciary (originally sponsored by Senators Newhouse and Talmadge)

Read first time 3/8/85.

AN ACT Relating to crimes; adding a new section to chapter 9A.16 RCW; and declaring an emergency.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 9A.16 RCW to read as follows:

          In any action alleging a statutory crime, the prosecution must establish the statutory elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.  Except for the defense of self-defense, the prosecution shall not be required to prove the absence of any defense raised by the defendant.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.     If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.     This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately.