BILL REQ. #:  H-0314.1 

Read first time 01/14/09.   Referred to Committee on Public Safety & Emergency Preparedness.

     AN ACT Relating to electronic monitoring of sex offenders; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   (1) The Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs shall conduct a study using radio frequency identification or other similar technology to electronically monitor sex offenders.
     (2) The study must include:
     (a) An evaluation of the current state of radio frequency identification technology, including the capabilities and limitations of subcutaneous radio frequency identification tags;
     (b) An identification of the ways in which current subcutaneous radio frequency identification technology may be used to electronically monitor sex offenders, including an evaluation of the costs and benefits of using the technology compared to the costs and benefits of methods currently being used to monitor sex offenders;
     (c) An evaluation of developing subcutaneous radio frequency identification technologies, such as linking subcutaneous radio frequency identification tags with global positioning systems, and an estimate of the time frame in which the developing technologies will be available; and
     (d) An identification of the ways in which developing radio frequency identification technologies may be used in the future to electronically monitor sex offenders, including an evaluation of the costs and benefits of using the technology compared to the costs and benefits of methods currently being used to monitor sex offenders.
     (3) The Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs shall report its findings to the legislature by December 31, 2009.