SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SSB 5621

               As Passed Senate, March 17, 1997

Title:  An act relating to registration of criminals who have victimized children.

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).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Human Services & Corrections:  2/18/97, 2/25/97 [DPS].

Passed Senate, 3/17/97, 49-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES & CORRECTIONS

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5621 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

  Signed by Senators Long, Chair; Zarelli, Vice Chair; Franklin, Hargrove, Kohl, Schow and Stevens.

Staff:  Kyle Thiessen (786-7754)

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 kidnaping 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 dollars in each of fiscal years 1997 and 1998.

Summary of Bill:  The following offenses are added to the list of offenses for which offenders must register:  (a) Kidnaping 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 minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct; sending, bringing into state depictions of minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct; and patronizing a juvenile prostitute.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  Kidnappers and the additional sex offenders listed in the bill are dangerous and prey on children.  Registration would allow law enforcement to track them better.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Det. Schilling, Seattle Police Dept.