SENATE BILL REPORT

                   HB 2498

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

        Human Services & Corrections, February 17, 2000

Title:  An act relating to licensing of and sanctions for violating conditions of the juvenile offender basic training camp program.

Brief Description:  Revising sanctions for violating conditions of the juvenile offender basic training camp program.

Sponsors:  Representatives O'Brien and Ballasiotes; by request of Department of Social and Health Services.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Human Services & Corrections:  2/17/2000 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES & CORRECTIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Hargrove, Chair; Costa, Vice Chair; Franklin, Kohl-Welles, Long, Sheahan and Stevens.

Staff:  Jennifer Strus (786-7484)

Background:  Juvenile offenders who are eligible for the basic training camp currently spend 120 days in the camp.  If the juvenile does not meet the requirements of the program, he or she may be expelled and spend the remainder of his or her sentence in the institution.  Some juveniles can meet the program standards if given an extra 30 days.

In addition, a juvenile offender who successfully completes the basic training program spends the remainder of his or her disposition on parole.  If an offender violates parole conditions, he or she may be violated and returned to the institution but only for 30 days.  Sometimes this sanction is not a significant deterrent to problematic behavior.

Summary of Bill:  It is clarified that basic training camps are not subject to licensing requirements under RCW 74.15.  The Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration may extend an offender's stay in the camp an extra 30 days.  A juvenile offender who completes the basic training camp and violates parole may be returned to the institution to serve the remainder of his or her sentence and may be subject to additional parole conditions.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  This bill allows DSHS to return violators to the institution to serve their entire sentences rather than just 30 days.  It clarifies that basic training camps do not have to be licensed under RCW 74.15.

Testimony Against:  There should be oversight of the basic training camps and that is why they should be licensed.

Testified:  Sid Sidorowicz, Assistant Secretary, Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration, DSHS (pro); Steven Pearce, Director, Citizen=s Commission on Human Rights (con).