S-3300               _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 4571

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1986 Regular Session

By Senator Hayner

Read first time 1/16/86 and referred to Committee on Governmental Operations.

AN ACT Relating to rewards; amending RCW 10.85.030, 10.85.040, and 10.85.050; and adding a new section to chapter 10.85 RCW.

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

        Sec. 1.  Section 1, page 124, Laws of 1886 as last amended by section 1, chapter 211, Laws of 1981 and RCW 10.85.030 are each amended to read as follows:

          The legislative authority of any county in the state ((or)), a port commission, or the governing body of a city, when in its opinion the public good requires it, is hereby authorized to offer and pay a suitable reward to any person or persons for information leading to:

          (a) The arrest of a specified person or persons convicted of or charged with any criminal offense; or

          (b) The arrest and conviction of a person or persons committing a specified criminal offense.

          In the event of crimes against county ((or)), port district, or city property, including but not limited to road signs, vehicles, buildings, or any other type of county ((or)), port district, or city property, the legislative authority of any county ((or)), a port commission, or the governing body of a city may offer and pay a suitable reward to any person or persons who shall furnish information leading to the arrest and conviction of any person of any offense against this county ((or)), port district, or city property, including but not limited to those offenses set forth in RCW 9A.48.070 through 9A.48.090, whether or not the offense is a felony, gross misdemeanor, or misdemeanor.

        Sec. 2.  Section 3, page 124, Laws of 1886 as amended by section 2, chapter 53, Laws of 1979 ex. sess. and RCW 10.85.040 are each amended to read as follows:

          When more than one claimant applies for the payment of any reward, offered by any county legislative authority or city governing body, the county legislative authority or city governing body shall determine to whom the same shall be paid, and if to more than one person, in what proportion to each; and their determination shall be final and conclusive.

        Sec. 3.  Section 2, page 124, Laws of 1886 as amended by section 3, chapter 53, Laws of 1979 ex. sess. and RCW 10.85.050 are each amended to read as follows:

          Whenever any reward has been offered by any county legislative authority or city governing body in the state under RCW 10.85.030, the person or persons providing the information shall be entitled to the reward, and the county legislative authority or city governing body which has offered the reward is authorized to draw a warrant or warrants out of any money in the county or city treasury, as appropriate, not otherwise appropriated.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.  A new section is added to chapter 10.85 RCW to read as follows:

          The county legislative authority, port commission, or city governing body may use moneys received from fines, penalties, and forfeitures assessed by  courts to reimburse its treasury for the payment of rewards under RCW 10.85.030.