SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5326

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

        Human Services & Corrections, February 15, 1995

Title:  An act relating to registration of sex offenders.

Brief Description:  Revising provision for registration of sex offenders.

Sponsors:  Senators Long, Fairley, Roach, Hargrove, West, Oke and Winsley.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Human Services & Corrections:  2/9/95, 2/15/95 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES & CORRECTIONS

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5326 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

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

Staff:  Dennis Martin (786-7403)

Background:  Currently, sex offenders convicted under the laws of Washington, another state, or under federal statutes, are required to register with the county sheriff in the county of the person's residence.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  Sex offenders under the jurisdiction of the United States probation service or convicted under the laws of a foreign country are required to register with the county sheriff in the offender's county of residence.

Whenever any person required to register as a sex offender moves to another state or Canada, he or she must send written notice to the county sheriff with whom he or she last registered.  Written notice must be submitted to the county sheriff within ten days of establishing the new residence.

Prosecutors must demonstrate that a sex offender has moved from the residence where he or she is registered in order to prosecute an offender for failure to notify the county sheriff when he or she has moved.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The original bill required that persons convicted of a sex offense in Canada be required to register.  The original bill also modified the penalty for failure to register from a gross misdemeanor to a class C felony for certain sex offenders.  The substitute alters current law that requires a prosecutor identify the location of a sex offender's new residence in order to prosecute the offender for failure to notify the county sheriff that he or she has moved.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  The bill will assist local law enforcement and prosecutors to monitor and enforce the sex offender registration requirements.  Expanding the persons required to register will promote public protection.  The law is currently unclear whether an offender must notify a county sheriff when he or she establishes residence in another state.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Detective Robert A. Shilling, Seattle Police Dept. (pro); Tom McBride, WAPA (pro).