VETO MESSAGE ON SB 5600

                   April 24, 1997

To the Honorable President and Members,

  The Senate of the State of Washington

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     I am returning herewith, without my approval as to section 5, Engrossed Senate Bill No. 5600 entitled:

"AN ACT Relating to internal matters for the operation of counties;"

     This legislation is primarily a technical bill that deletes archaic statutes, makes other financial statutes more usable, and provides county auditors with more flexibility in the administration of their duties.

     Section 5 of this bill would have allowed counties with populations between 250,000 and 499,999 to prescribe by ordinance alternative administration of juvenile probation and detention services.  Such a provision would effectively allow a select few counties to give themselves exclusive control over juvenile services without the concurrence of the courts.

     Current law already provides a process whereby counties may assume responsibility for these services upon agreement from the court.  Courts should not be excluded, without their concurrence, from the decision making regarding the administration of juvenile detention and probation services.  The courts see juvenile offenders who come before them firsthand, and have extensive knowledge of the types of services that are needed.  Additionally, there appears to be no legitimate reason to differentiate between counties merely on the basis of population regarding the provision of these services.

     For these reasons, I have vetoed section 5 of Engrossed Senate Bill No. 5600.

     With the exception of section 5, Engrossed Senate Bill No. 5600 is approved.

                   Respectfully submitted,

                   Gary Locke

                   Governor