SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 5309
As Reported By Senate Committee On:
Ways & Means, March 8, 2001
Title: An act relating to funding for local government criminal justice.
Brief Description: Providing funding for local government criminal justice.
Sponsors: Senators Constantine, Sheahan, Hewitt, Costa, Parlette, Carlson, Regala, T. Sheldon, Swecker, Jacobsen, B. Sheldon, Kastama, Gardner and Oke.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Ways & Means: 3/6/01, 3/8/01 [DPS, DNP].
SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS
Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5309 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.
Signed by Senators Brown, Chair; Constantine, Vice Chair; Fairley, Vice Chair; Fraser, Hewitt, Kline, Kohl‑Welles, Long, Parlette, Rasmussen, Regala, Sheahan, B. Sheldon, Snyder, Spanel, Thibaudeau and Zarelli.
Minority Report: Do not pass.
Signed by Senator Honeyford.
Staff: Bryon Moore (786‑7726)
Background: As a result of the repeal of the Motor Vehicle Excise Tax (MVET), revenue distributions to local governments for criminal justice and other purposes were substantially reduced. In the 2000 supplemental budget, the Legislature provided partial replacement for these reduced revenues distributions.
Under current law, revenue generated from most criminal infractions and penalties is distributed among the Public Safety and Education Account, the Judicial Information Systems Account, and the Emergency Medical Services and Trauma Care Account. A portion of the revenue is also retained by local governments.
Summary of Substitute Bill: An additional $10 penalty for traffic infractions is imposed. An additional $50 penalty is imposed for persons convicted of misdemeanor, gross misdemeanor, and felony traffic crimes. The distribution of the revenue derived from these additional penalties remains unchanged.
Money retained by local governments must constitute reimbursement for any liabilities under the unfunded mandate statute.
Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill: The legislative findings that changes to criminal laws have created substantial cumulative fiscal impacts on county and city criminal justice agencies and the repeal of the MVET reduced a significant amount of criminal justice funding to local governments are removed.
The provision stating that money retained by local governments must constitute reimbursement for any liabilities under the unfunded mandate statute is added.
A technical change is made to clarify that additional assessments do not apply to the $10 traffic infraction increase.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Testimony For: This bill provides additional revenue to local governments. This increase will also allow enhancements to the activities funded out of the public safety and education account, including sexual assault treatment and the treatment alternative for street crimes programs.
Testimony Against: None.
Testified: Dan Heid, City of Lakewood; Sophia Byrd, WA Assn. of Counties; Melanie Stewart, Treatment Alternatives for Street Crimes; Suzanne Brown, WA Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs.