HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1367

             As Reported By House Committee on:

                          Judiciary

Title:  An act relating to community involvement in stopping crime through creation of a Crime Stoppers assistance office.

Brief Description:  Creating a Crime Stoppers assistance office.

Sponsor(s):  Representatives Mielke, Ludwig, Rayburn, Inslee, Riley, Edmondson, Anderson, D. Sommers, Winsley, Vance, Moyer, Miller, Brumsickle, Bowman, Horn, May, Betrozoff, Bray, Orr, Tate, Sheldon and Silver; by request of Attorney General.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Judiciary, February 15, 1991, DPS.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

JUDICIARY

Majority Report: That Substitute House Bill No. 1367 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 18 members:  Representatives Appelwick, Chair; Ludwig, Vice Chair; Padden, Ranking Minority Member; Paris, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Belcher; Broback; Forner; Hargrove; Inslee; Locke; R. Meyers; Mielke; H. Myers; Riley; Scott; Tate; Vance; and Wineberry.

Staff:  Pat Shelledy (786-7149).

Background:  Crime Stoppers is a community based program that joins law enforcement, the community, and the media in an alliance to generate public awareness and assistance in solving crimes.  In the 1990 supplemental budget, the Legislature appropriated $200,000 to the Attorney General for grants to local governments for the operating expenses of Crime Stoppers.  The Attorney General was required to seek a geographic distribution of the grants and could require locals to provide matching funds.  No more than $16,000 was to be spent for administrative expenses.  The Legislature did not pass a bill that established a Crime Stoppers assistance office in the office of the Attorney General.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  The Attorney General must establish a Crime Stoppers assistance office to work in conjunction with local Crime Stoppers organizations to design model Crime Stoppers programs and to provide training and assistance.

The Crime Stoppers assistance office may make grants to local law enforcement agencies or local jurisdictions with Crime Stoppers programs.  The Attorney General will determine if any matching funds should be required.  Twenty-five percent of the grants must be for training, public awareness, and establishing new programs.  The grants must be used only for operating costs and not rewards.  Law enforcement agencies or local jurisdictions may not receive more than one grant during the 1991-93 biennium.  The grant may be made either to start a program or expand an existing program.

The Attorney General must appoint an advisory council to periodically review the Crime Stoppers programs and report to the Legislature by January 1 of each year about the programs' administration and progress.  The Attorney General may make rules to implement the program.

The act will terminate at the end of the biennium.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The intent section is stricken.  Local jurisdictions, such as cities, may apply for the grants as well as law enforcement agencies.  The restriction is added that limits grants to one per program, either to start or expand the program.  The provision is added that the act will terminate at the end of the biennium.

Fiscal Note:  Requested February 4, 1991.

Appropriation:  Yes.

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

Testimony For:  Crime Stoppers is a tremendously successful program that has resulted in solving several crimes and in recovery of thousands of dollars.  Additional money would help other jurisdictions start programs and enhance existing ones.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses: Pro:  Representative Mielke, Prime Sponsor; Mike Grant, Assistant Attorney General; Ed Sorger, Coordinator, Thurston County Crime Stoppers; and Detective Myrle Carner, Seattle-King County Crime Stoppers.