FINAL BILL REPORT

                  SSB 5621

                          C 113 L 97

                      Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Requiring kidnappers of children to register with local law enforcement agencies upon release from custody.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Human Services & Corrections (originally sponsored by Senators Long, Winsley, Patterson, Benton and Oke).

Senate Committee on Human Services & Corrections

House Committee on Criminal Justice & Corrections

Background:  Under current law, the most serious sex offenders are required to register with the county sheriff in the county of the offender's residence.  The registration period lasts for 10 years or more, depending upon the class of the offense.  Kidnappers are not required to register.

The federal Jacob Wetterling Crimes Against Children and Sexually Violent Offenders Registration Act of 1994 contains a financial incentive to encourage states to adopt registration programs for all persons convicted of kidnapping offenses and sex offenses where the victim is a minor.  States that fail to implement the federal act by September 1997 will not receive 10 percent of the funds that would otherwise be allocated to that state under the Byrne Formula Grants.  The state of Washington will receive $9 - $10 million in each of fiscal years 1997 and 1998.

Summary:  The following offenses are added to the list of offenses for which offenders must register:  (a) Kidnapping 1 and 2 and unlawful imprisonment, where the victim is a minor and the offender is not the minor's parent; and (b) sexual exploitation of a minor; dealing in depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct; sending or bringing into the state depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct; and patronizing a juvenile prostitute.

All of the requirements currently imposed on sex offenders who must register apply to the kidnappers and other offenders who must register under this act, including the requirement to notify law enforcement before moving.  Also, law enforcement is authorized to perform community notification in appropriate cases.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate 49 0

House     96 0

Effective:  July 27, 1997