FINAL BILL REPORT

                     EHB 1500

                                 C 183 L 91

                            Synopsis As Enacted

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

By Representatives Riley, Hargrove, Basich, Wood, Roland, Appelwick, Paris and Scott.

House Committee on Human Services

Senate Committee on Law & Justice

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:  The statutory dollar amount credited to a jail inmate while serving time for failure to pay fines and costs assessed against him or her 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.

Votes on Final Passage:

House 95    3

Senate   38    10    (Senate amended)

House 94    0    (House concurred)

Effective:     July 28, 1991