SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5112

BYSenators Pullen, Talmadge, McCaslin, Amondson and Newhouse

Changing provisions relating to criminal justice services and the crime laboratory system.

Senate Committee on Law & Justice

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 11, 1989; January 19, 1989

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

      Signed by Senators Pullen, Chairman; McCaslin, Vice Chairman; Hayner, Madsen, Nelson, Newhouse, Niemi, Rasmussen, Rinehart, Talmadge, Thorsness.

Senate Staff:Ben Barnes (786-7465)

                  January 19, 1989

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON LAW & JUSTICE, JANUARY 19, 1989

BACKGROUND:

The state crime lab is currently operated by the Washington State Patrol and is funded through the Washington State Patrol general fund.

Concern exists regarding an increasing delay in the provision of crime laboratory services to state prosecutors.  It has been suggested that a crime laboratory subcommittee be established within the existing Washington State Advisory Council on Criminal Justice Services to monitor the operation and management of the state crime lab.

SUMMARY:

A crime laboratory subcommittee is established under the auspices of the existing Washington State Advisory Council on Criminal Justice Services.  The subcommittee consists of three prosecuting attorneys, three sheriffs or police chiefs, and the chief of the Washington State Patrol.

The duties of the subcommittee are threefold:  (1) to assist the chief of the Washington State Patrol in monitoring the performance of the state crime lab and their utilization of funds; (2) to report annually to the governor and the Legislature on the performance of the state crime labs; and (2) to review and analyze budget requests submitted by the crime laboratory director to the chief of the Washington State Patrol.

The subcommittee is also required to study and report to the Legislature by December 1, 1991, on the feasibility of combining the crime lab, the toxicology lab, and the medical examiner system into a separate state department of forensic services.

Members of the State Advisory Council are reimbursed for travel expenses pursuant to RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED COMMITTEE AMENDMENT:

The requirement that the subcommittee prepare a report on the budget requests submitted by the laboratory director to the chief of the State Patrol is eliminated.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      available

Senate Committee - Testified: Major Rick Jensen, Washington State Patrol; Mike Redman, Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys