SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SHB 1178

                     As of March 24, 1997

Title:  An act relating to sentencing requirements for nonviolent offenders who violate drug laws.

Brief Description:  Creating sentencing guidelines for the sale of various amounts of controlled substances.

Sponsors:  House Committee on Criminal Justice & Corrections (originally sponsored by Representatives Quall and Wolfe; by request of Governor Lowry).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Law & Justice:  3/26/97.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LAW & JUSTICE

Staff:  Mychal Schwartz (786-7444)

Background:  There is concern among the Legislature and the criminal law practitioners in the state that the sentencing practices for drug offenders are not adequately dealing with drug issues in Washington.

Summary of Bill: Joint Review Committee.  A joint legislative committee is created to review adult criminal justice sentencing options available for drug offenders who possess or sell controlled substances and offenders who may be chemically dependent.

In conducting the review, the committee must meet with representatives from local law enforcement agencies, judges, defense attorneys, prosecutors, representatives from the Department of Corrections, representatives from the Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration, and representatives from the state and county drug and alcohol substance abuse and treatment programs, and the committee must solicit the views and technical assistance of substance abuse experts in corrections disciplines.

Membership.  The committee consists of 12 members.  The Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate each appoint six members to the committee.  There must be three members from each of the caucuses of the House of Representatives, of whom three members must be from the House Law and Justice Committee and the House Criminal Justice and Corrections Committee.  In addition, there must be three members from each of the caucuses of the Senate, of whom three members must be from the Senate Law and Justice Committee and the Senate Human Services and Corrections Committee. 

Final Report.  The committee's final report and recommendations for legislation must be submitted to the Legislature by December 31, 1997.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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