S-3688.1  _______________________________________________

                         SENATE BILL 6134

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      54th Legislature     1996 Regular Session

By Senators Fairley and Kohl

Read first time 01/08/96.  Referred to Committee on Law & Justice.

Increasing the penalties for repeated prostitution-related offenses.

    AN ACT Relating to prostitution; amending RCW 9A.88.030, 9A.88.090, and 9A.88.110; and prescribing penalties.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

    Sec. 1.  RCW 9A.88.030 and 1988 c 145 s 16 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) A person is guilty of prostitution if such person engages or agrees or offers to engage in sexual conduct with another person in return for a fee.

    (2) For purposes of this section, "sexual conduct" means "sexual intercourse" or "sexual contact," both as defined in chapter 9A.44 RCW.

    (3) Prostitution is a misdemeanor except that a third or subsequent offense within five years is a gross misdemeanor.

    Sec. 2.  RCW 9A.88.090 and 1975 1st ex.s. c 260 s 9A.88.090 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) A person is guilty of permitting prostitution if, having possession or control of premises which he or she knows are being used for prostitution purposes, he or she fails without lawful excuse to make reasonable effort to halt or abate such use.

    (2) Permitting prostitution is a misdemeanor except that a third or subsequent offense within five years is a gross misdemeanor.

    Sec. 3.  RCW 9A.88.110 and 1988 c 146 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) A person is guilty of patronizing a prostitute if:

    (a) Pursuant to a prior understanding, he or she pays a fee to another person as compensation for such person or a third person having engaged in sexual conduct with him or her; or

    (b) He or she pays or agrees to pay a fee to another person pursuant to an understanding that in return therefor such person will engage in sexual conduct with him or her; or

    (c) He or she solicits or requests another person to engage in sexual conduct with him or her in return for a fee.

    (2) For purposes of this section, "sexual conduct" has the meaning given in RCW 9A.88.030.

    (3) Patronizing a prostitute is a misdemeanor except that a third or subsequent offense within five years is a gross misdemeanor.

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