SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5234

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

        Human Services & Corrections, February 15, 1995

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

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

Sponsors:  Senators Smith, Long, Haugen and Kohl; by request of Department of Social and Health Services.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Human Services & Corrections:  2/15/95 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES & CORRECTIONS

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5234 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

  Signed by Senators Hargrove, Chair; Franklin, Vice Chair; Fairley, Kohl, Long, Palmer, Prentice, Schow, Smith and Strannigan.

Staff:  Andrea McNamara (786-7483)

Background:  When the juvenile offender basic training camp program was created in 1994, the only juveniles eligible to participate were those with dispositions of 52-78 weeks for nonviolent and non sex-related offenses.

The camp was designed to accommodate at least 70 offenders, but currently only 15-18 of the 1,250 juveniles in the state system meet the eligibility requirements.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  The eligibility requirement of a minimum disposition of 52 weeks is eliminated.  Juveniles with dispositions of any length up to 78 weeks are now eligible to participate in the juvenile offender basic training camp program.

The department is required to perform a risk assessment on every offender referred to the program and to exclude from participation in the basic training camp any candidate who is assessed as a high risk offender.

Eligible offenders may participate in the 120-day program at any time during their disposition.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The substitute bill adds the risk assessment and exclude high risk offenders.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on January 16, 1995.

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

Testimony For:  The expansion of the eligibility requirements is needed to make the program operable, since currently only 15-18 juveniles qualify.  The Legislature's initial funding for the camp was used to study similar programs around the nation and to develop Washington's basic training camp program according to statutory guidelines.  This bill would increase the number of eligible offenders to the point where it is feasible to operate the program.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Gerard "Sid" Sidorowicz, Assistant Secretary, Department of Social and Health Services (pro).