HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1159

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                         Corrections

Title:  An act relating to eligibility for juvenile offender basic training camp.

Brief Description:  Modifying eligibility for juvenile offender basic training camp option.

Sponsors:  Representatives Ballasiotes, Morris, Campbell, Costa, Wolfe, Scott, Huff, Mitchell, Hickel, Thompson, Talcott, Foreman, Carlson, Robertson, Ogden, Sherstad, Chandler, Patterson, Smith, Schoesler, Brumsickle, Casada, Johnson, D. Schmidt, K. Schmidt, Conway, Pennington, Delvin, Hymes, Mielke and Sheahan; by request of Department of Social and Health Services.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Corrections:  1/31/95, 2/24/95 [DP].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON CORRECTIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 11 members:  Representatives Ballasiotes, Chairman; Blanton, Vice Chairman; Sherstad, Vice Chairman; Quall, Ranking Minority Member; Tokuda, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Cole; Dickerson; Koster; Radcliff; K. Schmidt and Schoesler.

Staff:  Antonio Sanchez (786-7383).

Background:  The 1994 Legislature directed the Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration to directly operate or contract for a 120-day juvenile offender basic training camp (E2SHB 2319, 1994 c 7 s 542).  The boot camp was authorized for 70 youths who are middle offenders with a disposition of at least 52 weeks, but not more than 78 weeks.  Sex and violent offenders are excluded. 

Under the current juvenile sentencing structure, only 15-18 offenders would be eligible for the program based on this criteria. 

Summary of Bill:  Eligibility for the boot camp is expanded by increasing the disposition range to include any offender with a sentence of 78 weeks or less.  The requirement that offenders must enter the program in the first 120 days of their disposition is eliminated and modified to allow offenders who meet all other criteria to be eligible to enter at any time during their sentence.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  The boot camp modification will allow the state to make the camp idea work.  These changes will add needed flexibility for the program.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Sid Sidorowicz and David Griffith, Department of Social and Health Services (pro).