SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5239

              As Passed Senate, February 17, 1995

Title:  An act relating to registration of sex offenders.

Brief Description:  Requiring any person convicted of communication with a minor to register as a sex offender.

Sponsors:  Senators Oke and Owen.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Law & Justice:  1/26/95, 2/1/95 [DP].

Passed Senate, 2/17/95, 44-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LAW & JUSTICE

Majority Report:  Do pass. 

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

Staff:  Susan Carlson (786-7418)

Background:  All persons residing in this state who have been convicted of a sex offense are required to register with the sheriff of the county in which they reside.  The term "sex offense" includes all felony level convictions for rape, molestation, incest, and communicating with a minor for immoral purposes. 

The crime of communicating with a minor for immoral purposes is a gross misdemeanor, unless the person has a prior conviction for that crime or a prior conviction for a felony sex offense.  The existence of one of these prior convictions raises the crime to a class C felony.  Without such a prior conviction, persons convicted of communicating with a minor for immoral purposes are not required to register as sex offenders.  It has been suggested that any conviction for communicating with a minor for immoral purposes should subject the offender to the sex offender registration requirements.

Summary of Bill:  For purposes of the sex offender registration statutes, the term "sex offense" includes any violation of the statute prohibiting communication with a minor for immoral purposes.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  All persons convicted of the crime of communicating with a minor for immoral purposes should be required to register as sex offenders.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Senator Oke, prime sponsor; Peggy Adkins, Robert Sauter, Kitsap County Veterans Coalition; Tim Drury, Kitsap County Prosecutor's Office; Seth Dawson, Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys.

House Amendment(s):  The requirement to register as a sex offender upon conviction of the crime of communicating with a minor for immoral purposes continues for a period of ten years.