SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 6223

              As Passed Senate, February 12, 2000

Title:  An act relating to reorganization of, and technical, clarifying, nonsubstantive amendments to, community supervision and sentencing provisions.

Brief Description:  Reorganizing sentencing provisions.

Sponsors:  Senators Hargrove, Long, Costa and Kohl‑Welles; by request of Sentencing Guidelines Commission.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Judiciary:  1/31/2000, 2/3/2000 [DP].

Passed Senate, 2/12/2000, 44-1.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Heavey, Chair; Kline, Vice Chair; Costa, Goings, Hargrove, Haugen, Johnson and Thibaudeau.

Staff:  Aldo Melchiori (786-7439)

Background:  The Sentencing Reform Act was enacted in 1981.  The main sentencing provision has been amended 34 times and now contains 25 subsections spread over five pages of the code.

Summary of Bill:  The Legislature intends to make the Sentencing Reform Act easier to use and understand.  The "sentences" statute is divided into 42 separate sections.  No provision of the act is meant to make, nor does any provision in fact make, a substantive change to the Sentencing Reform Act.  It is clarified that persistent offenders are not eligible for extraordinary medical placement.

If any amendments are enacted during the 2000 legislative session that do not conform to these changes to the Sentencing Reform Act, the Code Reviser is directed to prepare a bill that incorporates those amendments for the 2001 legislative session.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  This bill takes effect July 1, 2001.

Testimony For:  This is endorsed by the Sentencing Guidelines Commission.  It has been reviewed by the Attorney General, Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, and Washington Defender=s Association.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Roger Goodman, Exec. Director, Sentencing Guidelines Commission (pro).