HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 EHB 1500

                    As Passed Legislature

Title:  An act relating to jail labor.

Brief Description:  Increasing the pay for jail labor performed by prisoners with outstanding fines and costs.

Sponsor(s):  Representatives Riley, Hargrove, Basich, Wood, Roland, Appelwick, Paris and Scott.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Human Services, February 27, 1991, DP;

Passed House, March 12, 1991, 95-3;

Amended by Senate;

House concurred;

Passed Legislature, 94-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

HUMAN SERVICES

Majority Report: Do pass.  Signed by 11 members:  Representatives Leonard, Chair; Riley, Vice Chair; Winsley, Ranking Minority Member; Tate, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Anderson; Beck; Brekke; Hargrove; Hochstatter; R. King; and H. Myers.

Staff:  Antonio Sanchez (786-7383).

Background:  Local jails currently have the authority to order a person into custody if he/she fails to pay fines and costs assessed against them in court within five days.  The offender is required to remain in jail until the fines and costs owing are paid.  The jailed offender is credited a dollar amount towards their fine for every day they spend incarcerated.  If an offender chooses to work while in jail, their fine will be reduced by $35 per day.  If he/she chooses not to work during their term of incarceration, they will be credited $25 a day towards their assessed fines.

Summary of Bill:  The uniform dollar amount credited to a jail inmate while serving time for failure to pay fines and costs assessed against them in court is eliminated.  The dollar amount credited towards court costs and fines for a day in jail is established by each county legislative authority.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  This measure allows county jails to reduce overcrowding.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Kurt Shaver and Kathleen Collins, Washington State Association of Counties.