SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SSB 5005

               As Passed Senate, March 17, 1997

Title:  An act relating to sentencing for multiple violent crimes.

Brief Description:  Concerning concurrent and consecutive sentencing for violent offenses.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Law & Justice (originally sponsored by Senators Long, Hargrove, McCaslin, Haugen, Zarelli, Johnson, Winsley, Goings, Rasmussen, Oke and Roach).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Law & Justice:  2/26/97, 3/5/97 [DPS].

Ways & Means:  3/10/97 [DPS (LAW)]

Passed Senate, 3/17/97, 46-3.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LAW & JUSTICE

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5005 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

  Signed by Senators Roach, Chair; Johnson, Vice Chair; Hargrove, Haugen, Long, McCaslin, Stevens and Zarelli.

Staff:  Mychal Schwartz (786-7444)

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5005 as recommended by Committee on Law & Justice be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

  Signed by Senators West, Chair; Deccio, Vice Chair; Strannigan, Vice Chair; Long, McDonald, Roach, Rossi, Schow, Sheldon, Snyder, Swecker, Winsley and Zarelli.

Staff:  Bryon Moore (786-7726)

Background:  When a person is convicted of two or more current violent offenses, even if arising from separate and distinct acts of criminal conduct, the crimes are sentenced concurrently with each other.

When a person is convicted of two or more current serious violent offenses arising from separate and distinct criminal conduct, the crimes are sentenced consecutively to each other.

Summary of Bill:  When a person is convicted of two or more current violent offenses arising from separate and distinct criminal conduct, the crimes are sentenced consecutively to each other unless the person's sentence would be longer if he or she was sentenced concurrently.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  This bill will hold offenders accountable for their actions.  It will make them serve the terms that they have "earned" from their criminal conduct.  Do the crime, do the time.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Senator Jeanine Long, prime sponsor; Helen Harlow, Tennis Shoe Brigade; Dick Van Wagenen, Sentencing Guidelines Commission (informational only).