1599 AMS SHE HOOV 002

HB 1599 - S AMD - 326

    By Senators Sheahan and Haugen

                                                    PULLED 4/14/99

    Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:

    "NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 43.330 RCW to read as follows:

    The extraordinary criminal justice assistance account is created in the state treasury.  Appropriations may be made from the general fund or the public safety and education account into this account.  Moneys in the account may be spent only after appropriation and as authorized by the legislature.  Expenditures from the account may be used only to reimburse the extraordinary costs associated with the investigation, prosecution, indigent defense, jury impanelment, expert witnesses, interpreters, incarceration, and other adjudication costs of aggravated murder cases.  Only the director of the office of public defense or the director's designee may authorize expenditures from the account.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 43.330 RCW to read as follows:

    Counties may submit claims to the office of public defense for reimbursement from the extraordinary criminal justice assistance account.

    (1) The office of public defense, in consultation with the Washington association of prosecuting attorneys and the Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs, shall develop procedures for processing the claims, for auditing the veracity of the claims, and for prioritizing the claims.  Prioritization of the claims shall be based on, but not limited to, such factors as disproportionate fiscal impact relative to the county budget, efficient use of resources, and whether the costs are extraordinary and could not be reasonably accommodated and anticipated in the normal budget process.

    (2) Before January 1st of each year, the office of public defense, in consultation with the Washington association of prosecuting attorneys and the Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs, shall develop and submit to the appropriate fiscal committees of the senate and house of representatives a prioritized list of submitted claims that are recommended for funding by the legislature from the extraordinary criminal justice assistance account.

    (3) The office of public defense shall not financially obligate funds from the extraordinary criminal justice assistance account before the legislature has appropriated funds for a specific list of claims.  The legislature may remove claims from the list recommended by the office of public defense."

HB 1599 - S AMD - 326

By Senators Sheahan and Haugen

                                                    PULLED 4/14/99

    On page 1, line 1 of the title, after "funding;" strike the remainder of the title and insert "and adding new sections to chapter 43.330 RCW."

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EFFECT: Creates the extraordinary criminal justice assistance account.