SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5025

                As Passed Senate, March 3, 1995

Title:  An act relating to removing the repealer of the criminal profiteering act.

Brief Description:  Removing the repealer of the criminal profiteering act.

Sponsors:  Senators Smith, Rasmussen and Schow.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Law & Justice:  1/17/95, 1/26/95 [DP].

Passed Senate, 3/3/95, 48-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LAW & JUSTICE

Majority Report:  Do pass. 

  Signed by Senators Smith, Chair; C. Anderson, Vice Chair; Hargrove, Haugen, Johnson, Long, McCaslin, Quigley, Rinehart, Roach and Schow.

Staff:  Martin Lovinger (786-7443)

Background:  In 1984, the Legislature passed a racketeering statute in order to provide prosecutors with a tool for fighting complex criminal activities.  The racketeering law was amended in 1985 to make it more effective.  It was renamed the Criminal Profiteering Act and given a ten-year repeal date of July 1, 1995.  Since the date of its enactment, this law has been successfully used by prosecutors against the participants in a number of complex criminal schemes.

Summary of Bill:  The provision repealing the Criminal Profiteering Act is repealed, thus keeping the law in effect.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

Testimony For:  This law has worked to address complex criminal matters exactly as it was intended to do.  Concerns raised when the law was created have not proven to be problems.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Pat Sainsbury, Fraud Division, King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office (pro).

House Amendment(s):  The expiration date is extended by two years, instead of being removed altogether.