FINAL BILL REPORT

                 EHB 2707

                          C 83 L 98

                     Synopsis as Enacted

 

Brief Description:  Prohibiting sex offenders in inmate work programs from obtaining private individuals' names.

 

Sponsors:  By House Committee on Criminal Justice & Corrections (originally sponsored by Representatives Backlund, Quall, Dickerson, Koster, O'Brien, Scott, Sullivan, Lambert, Cairnes, Wood, McDonald, Sherstad, Mulliken, Kessler, Ogden, Cooke, Conway, Anderson, Dunshee, Gardner, Ballasiotes and Dunn).

 

House Committee on Criminal Justice & Corrections

Senate Committee on Human Services & Corrections

 

Background:  In prisons such as McNeil Island Correctional Center, convicted offenders participate in a variety of work programs including telemarketing for private and public entities.  During this time, offenders may have access to personal information such as names, addresses and phone numbers of law abiding citizens.  There are no statutory prohibitions on the types of offenders who may have access to certain information when participating in an inmate work program. 

 

Summary:  An inmate convicted of a sex offense who is participating in a work program is prohibited from obtaining access to private individuals' names, addresses, and telephone numbers.  The administrator of the work program is responsible for ensuring that convicted sex offenders do not receive personal information about law-abiding citizens.

 

Votes on Final Passage:

 

House960

Senate450

 

Effective:March 20, 1998