SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 6440

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

        Human Services & Corrections, February 3, 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:  Senators Hargrove, Long and Sheahan; by request of Department of Social and Health Services.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Human Services & Corrections:  2/1/2000, 2/3/2000 [DP-WM].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES & CORRECTIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

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

Staff:  Jennifer Strus (786-7484)

Background:  Eligible juvenile offenders currently spend 120 days in the basic training 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 for an additional 30 days.  Sometimes this 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:  It would allow JRA to keep a youth in the training camp longer if to do so would allow them to complete it successfully.  If the training camps are not made exempt from licensing, then Children=s Administration must create an entirely new licensing category.

Testimony Against:  The training camps should be regulated by being licensed.

Testified:  Sid Sidorowicz, Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration, DSHS (pro); Steven Pearce, Citizens= Commission for Human Rights (con).