SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5132

                As Passed Senate, March 6, 1997

Title:  An act relating to school bus route stops as drug‑free zones.

Brief Description:  Simplifying designation of school bus stops as drug‑free zones.

Sponsors:  Senators Zarelli, Schow, Winsley and Oke.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Law & Justice:  2/4/97, 2/10/97 [DP].

Passed Senate, 3/6/97, 47-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LAW & JUSTICE

Majority Report:  Do pass.

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

Staff:  Mal Murphy (786-7412)

Background:  Under current law, a number of locations are declared to be drug free zones, within which the penalties for drug related offenses are doubled.  The areas covered are  schools, school bus route stops designated as such on maps submitted by school districts to the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, school buses, public parks, transit vehicles, transit vehicle shelters and civic centers designated as drug free zones by local governing authorities.  

Summary of Bill:  The definition of school bus route stop is modified to mean a school bus stop as designated by a school district, without the necessity of submitting maps to the Superintendent of Public Instruction. 

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on January 30, 1997.

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

Testimony For:  School districts do not currently submit maps to the SPI.  They are the only ones who know where the bus stops are.  This bill just makes the process simpler.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Tom McBride, Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys (pro).