HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 2939

As Amended by the Senate

BYRepresentatives Braddock, Brooks, Morris, Jacobsen, Silver, Holland, Winsley and Baugher; by request of Department of Corrections

Removing population limits at certain correctional institutions.

House Committe on Health Care

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (10)

      Signed by Representatives Braddock, Chair; Day, Vice Chair; Brooks, Ranking Republican Member; Cantwell, Chandler, Morris, Prentice, D. Sommers, Vekich and Wolfe.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  (1)

      Signed by Representative Sprenkle.

House Staff:Antonio Sanchez (786-7383)

Rereferred House Committee on Appropriations

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (22)

      Signed by Representatives Locke, Chair; Grant, Vice Chair; H. Sommers, Vice Chair; Silver, Ranking Republican Member; Youngsman, Assistant Ranking Republican Member; Belcher, Bowman, Dorn, Doty, Ebersole, Ferguson, Hine, Inslee, May, McLean, Nealey, Peery, Rust, Spanel, Valle, Wang and Wineberry.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  (2)

      Signed by Representatives Brekke and Sprenkle.

House Staff:      Jack Daray (786-7178)

AS OF HOUSE SECOND READING FEBRUARY 12, 1990

BACKGROUND:

There is currently a statutory limit on the number of inmates allowed to be housed at both the Twin Rivers Corrections Center in Monroe and the Washington Correction Center at Shelton.  These inmate population caps were originally instituted as part of siting agreements made with the local jurisdictions.  The rapid rise of inmates, however, has created an urgent need to consider a more effective utilization of these existing prison facilities.

Statutorily established emergency clauses allow these prisons to exceed the maximum prison population requirements.  The maximum number of inmates allowed under these emergency clauses is 550 at the Twin Rivers Correction Center and 780 at the correction center training center at Shelton.

SUMMARY:

The statutory limits placed on inmate capacity at the Twin Rivers Corrections Center and the Washington Corrections Center is eliminated.

EFFECT OF SENATE AMENDMENTS:  The payment of annual mitigation funds is provided to Snohomish County if the Department of Corrections exceeds the current inmate population limit at the Twin River Corrections Center.  The funds shall be calculated by multiplying the average daily inmate population that exceeds the nonemergency statutory limit for that fiscal year by $500.  Annual mitigation funds are also provided to the county of Walla Walla and the city of College Place.  Payment of annual mitigation funds is made contingent upon funding in the state budget.  The Department of Corrections is required to provide increased correctional staff, consistent with existing custody staffing models at the Twin Rivers prison facility in Monroe and the Washington Correctional facility at Shelton.

Fiscal Note:      Requested January 28, 1990.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    (Health Care)  Chase Riveland, Department of Corrections.

(Appropriations)  No one.

House Committee - Testified Against:      (Health Care)  No one.

(Appropriations)  Representatives Sprenkle and Wineberry.

House Committee - Testimony For:    (Health Care)  Increasing the inmate population limits in these two facilities would provide the Department of Corrections with an option for efficiently and effectively dealing with the current serious inmate overcrowding problem in the state prison system.

(Appropriations)  None.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      (Health Care)  None.

(Appropriations)  Lifting the cap violates agreements made between the state and the community of Monroe under threat of lawsuit in the early 1980s.  Double bunking may cause problems leading to court intervention.

VOTE ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      Yeas 85; Nays 9; Excused 4

Voting Nay: Representatives Brekke, Brough, Cantwell, King R., Miller, Nelson, Sprenkle, Wilson K., Wilson S.

Excused:    Representatives Appelwick, King P., Silver, Valle.