SENATE BILL REPORT

SHB 3006

BYHouse Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Wineberry, Appelwick, Locke, Anderson, Nelson and Spanel)

Creating the minority justice commission.

House Committe on Appropriations

Senate Committee on Law & Justice

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 22, 1990

Majority Report:  Do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

      Signed by Senators Nelson, Chairman; McCaslin, Vice Chairman; Niemi, Patrick, Rinehart, Talmadge, Thorsness.

Senate Staff:Ben Barnes (786-7465)

                  February 22, 1990

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 26, 1990

Senate Staff:Mary Poole (786-7613)

                  February 27, 1990

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON LAW & JUSTICE, FEBRUARY 22, 1990

BACKGROUND:

The Washington State Minority and Justice Task Force was created in 1987 to study the treatment of minorities in state courts, to recommend possible reforms, and to provide awareness training.  As part of its work, the task force has identified 10 major issues requiring further study.  These include problems relating to language barriers and the competence of court interpreters, general perception of bias in the legal system; under- representation of minority employees in the legal system, on jury pools and jury panels, the perception that minorities receive harsher sentences, and the treatment of minority victims of crime.

SUMMARY:

The Washington State Minority Justice Commission is created, consisting of 11 members appointed by the Governor.  The commission is to advise the Governor, Legislature, Supreme Court, and the Office of the Administrator of the Courts on action to be taken to insure ethnic/racial minorities are receiving equal treatment in the state justice system.

Initially, the commission is funded by state funds.  After June 30, 1991, the commission's activities must be funded entirely from the private sector.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      none requested

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED SENATE WAYS & MEANS AMENDMENT:

Committee membership is increased to 13, and members are appointed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.  The term "racial and ethnic minorities" is defined.  The committee will have an appointed staff.  An appropriation is made to the commission of $200,000 -- $150,000 for the purposes of this bill, and $50,000 to the Office of the Administrator for the Courts to develop standards for minority employment and recruitment.  Following the first year of operation, the commission will be funded to the greatest extent possible with nonstate funding.

The bill is made contingent upon funding in the budget.

Senate Committee - Testified: LAW & JUSTICE:  Fred Hellberg, Governor's office; Donald Makai, Asian Bar Asssociation of WA; Richard A. Jones, Loren Miller Bar Association; Justice Charles Smith, Chair, Minority and Justice Task Force; Vicki Toyohara, Asian Bar Association of WA/Minority and Justice Task Force; Ruperta Alexis, National Conference of Black Lawyers; Louis P. Cooper, Jr., National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice

Senate Committee - Testified: WAYS & MEANS:  Charles Z. Smith, Supreme Court Justice; Mary McQueen, Administrator for the Courts