SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6350

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

As of February 2, 2016

Title: An act relating to motor vehicle property offenses.

Brief Description: Addressing motor vehicle property offenses.

Sponsors: Senators O'Ban, Padden, Miloscia, Roach, Hewitt, Schoesler and Dammeier.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Law & Justice: 1/25/16.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LAW & JUSTICE

Staff: Lindsay Erickson (786-7465)

Background: An adult convicted of a felony is sentenced under the provisions of the Sentencing Reform Act (SRA). The SRA specifies a standard sentence range based on the seriousness of the offense and the offender's prior criminal history score. The sentencing judge will sentence the offender to a period of confinement within that standard range, unless there is a finding supporting an exceptional sentence.

Offender Scores for Vehicle Property Crimes. If the present conviction is for Theft of a Motor Vehicle, Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, Taking a Motor Vehicle Without Permission 1, or Taking a Motor Vehicle Without Permission 2:

Malicious mischief. A person is guilty of malicious mischief in the first degree if he or she knowingly and maliciously:

Malicious mischief in the first degree is a class B felony with a seriousness level of II.

A person is guilty of malicious mischief in the second degree if he or she knowingly and maliciously:

Malicious mischief in the second degree is a class C felony with a seriousness level of I.

Summary of Bill: Adds Malicious Mischief 1 and 2 to the list of vehicle property crime convictions that are triple scored at sentencing.

Increases the seriousness level by one for the following seven vehicle property crime convictions, if the offender is being sentenced for a third or subsequent offense:

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested on January 21, 2016.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: Washington State has the highest property crime rates in the country. The Legislature has not dealt with property crime as seriously as it should. We need to get chronic property offenders off the street.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Senator O'Ban, prime sponsor; Mitch Barker, WA Assoc. of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs.

Persons Signed In to Testify But Not Testifying:No one.