SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 6640

              As Passed Senate, February 11, 1998

Title:  An act relating to sex offender name changes.

Brief Description:  Requiring sex offenders to notify the county sheriff and the state patrol before changing his or her name.

Sponsors:  Senators Morton, Roach, Swecker, McCaslin, Fairley, Goings, Anderson, Oke and Benton.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Human Services & Corrections:  2/4/98 [DP].

Passed Senate, 2/11/98, 47-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES & CORRECTIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass.

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

Staff:  Fara Daun (786-7459)

Background:  Under current law, sex offenders not under the jurisdiction of the Department of Corrections may change their names on the same basis as nonoffenders.

Summary of Bill:  Sex offenders subject to registration requirements are not permitted to change their names if doing so will interfere with legitimate law enforcement interests.  Name changes due to changes in marital status, religious, and legitimate cultural reasons are not included in this restriction. 

Any sex offender who applies to change his or her name must submit a copy of the application to the local sheriff and the State Patrol at least five days prior to the entry of a name change order and must submit a copy of the court's name change order within five days after the order.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on January 26, 1998.

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

Testimony For:  None.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  No one.