SENATE BILL REPORT

                                   SHB 1199

           AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON LAW & JUSTICE, MARCH 27, 1991

Brief Description:  Authorizing local law and justice councils.

SPONSORS:House Committee on Local Government (originally sponsored by Representatives Haugen, Ferguson, Cooper, Nealey, Appelwick, Wang, Horn, Prince and Scott).

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LAW & JUSTICE

Majority Report:  Do pass.

      Signed by Senators Nelson, Chairman; Thorsness, Vice Chairman; L. Kreidler, Madsen, Newhouse, Rasmussen, and A. Smith. 

Staff:  Jack Brummel (786‑7428)

Hearing Dates:March 25, 1991; March 27, 1991

BACKGROUND:

In order to encourage local governments and the state to form partnerships for sharing resources related to the management of offenders, the Legislature enacted legislation in 1987 to allow counties, either singly or in combination, to establish community corrections boards.  The boards, if established, are to develop a community corrections plan describing the correctional resources, goals, objectives, needs, and problems associated with correctional services in the county and reviewing ways to maximize resources and reduce duplication of services. 

The Secretary of the Department of Corrections is required to adopt rules for the submittal and review of all community corrections plans.  If a county establishes a community corrections board, any agreement between the county and the Department of Corrections for the operation of any correctional facility or program must be included in the plan.

SUMMARY:

Community corrections boards are renamed local law and justice councils.  The councils are to include the Secretary of Corrections and a number of county and city officials involved in law enforcement and corrections. The local law and justice plans developed by the council are subject to final approval by the county legislative authority.  The plans must include a section on jail management. 

The county may request technical assistance from the Department of Corrections, the Office of Financial Management, the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs, and other units of state or local government. The Secretary of Corrections may adopt rules regarding requests for assistance, but is no longer required to adopt rules regarding local plans.  The secretary may also appoint an advisory committee of local and state government officials to provide advice on corrections issues and assistance to local governments.  Assistance provided to counties by the department may be by contract with other state and local agencies.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  requested March 22, 1991

TESTIMONY FOR:

This bill makes the old partnership program more workable and encourages more planning at the local level.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  PRO:  James Goche, Association of County Officials; Kurt Sharar, Washington State Association of Counties; Karen Portine, Department of Corrections; Bill Closner, Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs