FINAL BILL REPORT

                  HB 2905

                         C 146 L 98

                     Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Prohibiting placement of sexually violent predators in state mental facilities.

Sponsors:  Representatives Carrell, Talcott, Cooke, Bush, Smith, Cairnes, Koster, Backlund, Sherstad, Lambert and Kastama.

Senate Committee on Human Services & Corrections

House Committee on Children & Family Services

Background:  A sexually violent predator is a person who has been convicted of a crime of sexual violence and who suffers from a mental condition or disorder which makes the person likely to engage in further violent, predatory sexual acts.  Persons found by a court to be sexual predators are placed in the custody of the Department of Social and Health Services.

The department must place sexual predators in secure facilities, but is restricted from placing them in a facility on the grounds of a state mental facility or regional habilitation center, or in a correctional facility.  The department may place sexual predators in a facility located on the grounds of, but not in, a correctional facility.

There are three state mental facilities:  Western State Hospital, Eastern State Hospital, and the Children Study and Treatment Center.  Regional habilitation centers are state institutions that provide residential care for the developmentally disabled.

Summary:  The Department of Social and Health Services is restricted from placing a sexual predator, for any period of time in a facility, on the grounds of a state mental facility or regional habilitation center.

Votes on Final Passage:

House906

Senate394

Effective:March 25, 1998