FINAL BILL REPORT

                  HB 1599

                         C 303 L 99

                     Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Creating an account to reimburse counties for extraordinary costs in the criminal justice system.

Sponsors:  Representatives McMorris, Doumit, Clements, Constantine, Sheahan, Grant, G. Chandler, Linville, Rockefeller, D. Schmidt, Kessler and Schoesler.

House Committee on Local Government

House Committee on Appropriations

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

Background:

Each county in Washington operates a superior court with jurisdiction to adjudicate civil and criminal cases.  Counties elect superior court judges and prosecuting attorneys and establish programs for indigent defense and systems for sheriffs to provide law enforcement and investigate crimes.

Summary:

A process is created for counties to seek reimbursement of extraordinary criminal justice costs which are costs associated with investigation, prosecution, indigent defense, jury impanelment, expert witnesses, interpreters, incarceration, and other adjudication costs of aggravated murder cases.

Counties may submit petitions for relief to the Office of Public Defense (OPD).  The OPD, in consultation with the Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys and the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs, is required to develop procedures for:

Cprocessing the petitions;

Cauditing the veracity of the petitions; and

Cprioritizing the petitions.

Factors considered in prioritizing petitions include disproportionate impact relative to the county budget, efficient use of resources, the extraordinary nature of the costs, and the county's ability to accommodate and anticipate the costs in its normal budget process.

Before January 1st of each year the OPD, in consultation with the Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys and the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs, is required to  develop and submit to the Legislature a prioritized list of petitions recommended for funding by the Legislature.

Votes on Final Passage:

House950

Senate480(Senate amended)

House970(House concurred)

Effective:July 25, 1999