HOUSE BILL REPORT

SHB 1065

As Amended by the Senate

BYHouse Committee on Judiciary (originally sponsored by Representatives Jones, Hargrove, Patrick, Walker, S. Wilson, Haugen, Basich, Brough, Todd, Ferguson, Holland, Crane, Cole, Rayburn, Jesernig, Rector, Heavey, Pruitt, Leonard, Kremen, Winsley, P. King, Bowman, Moyer, Silver, Cantwell, D. Sommers, Wineberry, H. Myers, G. Fisher, K. Wilson, Morris, Miller, Wolfe, Youngsman, Van Luven, McLean, Nealey, Tate, May, Schoon, Brumsickle, Doty, Phillips, Betrozoff and Anderson)

Increasing penalties for sex crimes against children.

House Committe on Judiciary

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (17)

      Signed by Representatives Appelwick, Chair; Crane, Vice Chair; Padden, Ranking Republican Member; Belcher, Brough, Dellwo, Hargrove, Inslee, Locke, R. Meyers, Moyer, H. Myers, Patrick, Scott, Tate, Van Luven and Wineberry.

House Staff:Pat Shelledy (786-7149)

Rereferred House Committee on Appropriations

Majority Report:  The substitute bill by the Committee on Judiciary be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (24)

      Signed by Representatives Locke, Chair; Grant, Vice Chair; H. Sommers, Vice Chair; Silver, Ranking Republican Member; Youngsman, Assistant Ranking Republican Member; Appelwick, Belcher, Bowman, Braddock, Brekke, Bristow, Dorn, Ebersole, Ferguson, Hine, May, Nealey, Peery, Rust, Sayan, Spanel, Sprenkle, Valle and Wineberry.

House Staff:      Randy Acker (786-7136)

AS PASSED HOUSE MARCH 13, 1989

BACKGROUND:

The Sentencing Reform Act has special sentencing alternatives for offenders convicted of certain sexual offenses.  Those alternatives include outpatient and inpatient treatment, and treatment while incarcerated.  Some sexual offenses have a seven year statute of limitations while other sexual offenses have a three year statute of limitations.

SUMMARY:

The Sentencing Guidelines Commission is directed to evaluate the effectiveness of mandatory treatment for sexual offenders incarcerated in prison.  The court may require the defendant to pay for sexual deviancy evaluations and treatment.  Prosecutors are encouraged to avoid prefiling diversion agreements in sexual assault cases.  The statute of limitations is increased from three years to seven years for incest, first degree rape and second degree rape if the victim was under 14 at the time of the offense.  A blue ribbon panel is established to study the effectiveness of the special sexual offender sentencing alternative.

EFFECT OF SENATE AMENDMENTS:  Continuances of trials in child sexual abuse cases are restricted.  The court will not approve continuation of an original trial date when the victim is under 18 years of age unless the court finds that substantial and compelling reasons exist to continue it and the benefits of continuance outweigh the disadvantages of postponement.

Fiscal Note:      Requested February 17, 1989.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    (Judiciary)  Mike Redman, WAPA; Dr. Barbara Schwartz, Department of Corrections; Representative Evan Jones, Prime Sponsor; Beverly Emery, Washington Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs.

(Appropriations)  None Presented.

House Committee - Testified Against:      (Judiciary)  None Presented.

(Appropriations)  None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    (Judiciary)  Washington has some of the country's lowest sentencing ranges for sexual offenses.  The sexual sentencing alternatives need evaluation.

(Appropriations)  None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      (Judiciary)  None Presented.

(Appropriations)  None Presented.

VOTE ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      Yeas 96; Excused 2

Excused:    Representatives Belcher and Wang