HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1361

                      As Passed House:

                      January 10, 1996

Title:  An act relating to electronic facsimile transmission of arrest warrants.

Brief Description:  Authorizing arrest warrants to be served by facsimile transmission.

Sponsors:  Representatives Robertson, Costa, Cody, Delvin, Chappell, Hickel, Smith, McMahan and Honeyford.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Law & Justice:  2/1/95, 2/10/95 [DP].

Floor Activity:

Passed House:  2/22/95, 97-0;

Passed House:  1/10/96, 93-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LAW & JUSTICE

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 17 members:  Representatives Padden, Chairman; Delvin, Vice Chairman; Hickel, Vice Chairman; Appelwick, Ranking Minority Member; Costa, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Campbell; Carrell; Chappell; Cody; Lambert; McMahan; Morris; Robertson; Sheahan; Smith; Thibaudeau and Veloria.

Staff:  Pat Shelledy (786-7149).

Background:  A warrant for a person's arrest may be sent to a law enforcement officer via telegraph or teletype. An arresting officer who receives a copy of a warrant by telegraph or teletype has the same power to arrest the person as if the officer possessed the original warrant. 

The statute that authorizes transmittal of warrants via teletype and telegraph is out of date and does not specifically provide for transmittal of warrants by electronic facsimile.

Summary of Bill:  Copies of warrants may be sent to law enforcement officers by electronic facsimile transmission.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  Current law allows transmission of arrest warrants by telegraph or teletype.  The bill updates the law by allowing arrest warrants to be transmitted by electronic facsimile.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Mike Patrick, Washington State Council of Police Officers (pro).