Z-1259.1  _______________________________________________

 

                          HOUSE BILL 2468

          _______________________________________________

 

State of Washington      57th Legislature     2002 Regular Session

 

By Representatives Miloscia, O'Brien and Wood; by request of Governor Locke

 

Read first time 01/17/2002.  Referred to Committee on Criminal Justice & Corrections.

Facilitating the convicted offender DNA data base.


    AN ACT Relating to the convicted offender DNA data base; amending RCW 43.43.754, 43.43.759, and 9.94A.505; amending 1989 c 350 s 1 (uncodified); adding new sections to chapter 43.43 RCW; and providing an effective date.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

 

    Sec. 1.  1989 c 350 s 1 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows:

    The legislature finds that recent developments in molecular biology and genetics have important applications for forensic science.  It has been scientifically established that there is a unique pattern to the chemical structure of the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) contained in each cell of the human body.  The process for identifying this pattern is called "DNA identification."

    The legislature further finds that ((the accuracy of identification provided by this method is superior to that of any presently existing technique and recognizes the importance of this scientific breakthrough in providing a reliable and accurate tool for the investigation and prosecution of sex offenses as defined in RCW 9.94A.030(26) and violent offenses as defined in RCW 9.94A.030(29))) DNA data bases are important tools in criminal investigations, in the exclusion of individuals who are the subject of investigations or prosecutions, and in detecting recidivist acts.  It is the policy of this state to assist federal, state, and local criminal justice and law enforcement agencies in both the identification and detection of individuals in criminal investigations and the identification and location of missing and unidentified persons.  Therefore, it is in the best interest of the state to establish a DNA data base and DNA data bank containing DNA samples submitted by persons convicted of felony offenses and DNA samples necessary for the identification of missing persons and unidentified human remains.

    The legislature further finds that the DNA identification system used by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Washington state patrol has no ability to predict genetic disease or predisposal to illness.  Nonetheless, the legislature intends that biological samples collected under RCW 43.43.754, and DNA identification data obtained from the samples, be used only for purposes related to criminal investigation, identification of human remains or missing persons, or improving the operation of the system authorized under RCW 43.43.752 through 43.43.758.

 

    Sec. 2.  RCW 43.43.754 and 1999 c 329 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) Every adult or juvenile individual convicted of a felony or adjudicated guilty of an equivalent juvenile offense ((defined as a sex offense under RCW 9.94A.030(33)(a) or a violent offense as defined in RCW 9.94A.030 shall have a blood sample drawn)) specified in subsection (2) of this section must have a biological sample collected for purposes of DNA identification analysis.  For persons convicted of such offenses or adjudicated guilty of an equivalent juvenile offense who are serving or who are to serve a term of confinement in a county jail or detention facility, the county shall be responsible for obtaining ((blood)) the biological samples either as part of the intake process into the county jail or detention facility for those persons convicted on or after ((July 25, 1999)) the effective date of this act, or within a reasonable time after ((July 25, 1999)) the effective date of this act, for those persons incarcerated ((prior to July 25, 1999)) before the effective date of this act, who have not yet had a ((blood)) biological sample ((drawn)) collected, beginning with those persons who will be released the soonest.  For persons convicted of such offenses or adjudicated guilty of an equivalent juvenile offense, who are serving or who are to serve a term of confinement in a department of corrections facility or a ((division of juvenile rehabilitation)) department of social and health services facility, the facility holding the person shall be responsible for obtaining ((blood)) the biological samples either as part of the intake process into such facility for those persons convicted on or after ((July 25, 1999)) the effective date of this act, or within a reasonable time after ((July 25, 1999)) the effective date of this act, for those persons incarcerated ((prior to July 25, 1999)) before the effective date of this act, who have not yet had a ((blood)) biological sample ((drawn)) collected, beginning with those persons who will be released the soonest.

    (2) The requirements of subsection (1) of this section apply to persons (a) convicted of a sex offense or a violent offense as defined in RCW 9.94A.030, or (b) sentenced to any period of total confinement, including a period of time served as of the date of sentencing, for a drug offense as defined in RCW 9.94A.030, assault in the third degree, or any felony defined in chapter 9A.48, 9A.52, 9A.56, or 70.74 RCW and not included in (a) of this subsection.

    (3) Any ((blood)) biological sample taken pursuant to RCW 43.43.752 through 43.43.758 may be retained by the forensic laboratory services bureau, and shall be used solely for the purpose of providing DNA or other ((blood grouping)) tests for identification analysis and prosecution of a ((sex offense or a violent offense)) criminal offense or for the identification of human remains or missing persons.  Nothing in this section prohibits the submission of results derived from the biological samples to the Federal Bureau of Investigation combined DNA index system.

    (4) The director of the forensic laboratory services bureau of the Washington state patrol shall perform testing on all biological samples collected under subsection (1) of this section, to the extent allowed by funding available for this purpose.  The director shall give priority to testing on samples collected from those adults or juveniles convicted of a felony or adjudicated guilty of an equivalent juvenile offense that is defined as a sex offense or a violent offense in RCW 9.94A.030.

    (5) This section applies to all adults who are convicted after July 1, 1990; and to all adults who were convicted on or prior to July 1, 1990, and who are still incarcerated on or after ((July 25, 1999)) the effective date of this act.  This section applies to all juveniles who are adjudicated guilty after July 1, 1994; and to all juveniles who were adjudicated guilty on or prior to July 1, 1994, and who are still incarcerated on or after ((July 25, 1999)) the effective date of this act.

    (6) This section creates no rights in a third person.  No cause of action may be brought based upon the noncollection or nonanalysis or the delayed collection or analysis of a biological sample authorized to be taken under RCW 43.43.752 through 43.43.758.

    (7) The detention, arrest, or conviction of a person based upon a data base match or data base information is not invalidated if it is determined that the sample was obtained or placed in the data base by mistake, or if the conviction or juvenile adjudication that resulted in the collection of the biological sample was subsequently vacated or otherwise altered in any future proceeding including but not limited to posttrial or postfact-finding motions, appeals, or collateral attacks.

 

    Sec. 3.  RCW 43.43.759 and 1990 c 230 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

    The Washington state patrol shall consult with the forensic investigations council and adopt rules to implement RCW 43.43.752 through 43.43.758.  The rules shall prohibit the use of DNA identification data for any research or other purpose that is not related to a criminal investigation, to the identification of human remains or missing persons, or to improving the operation of the system authorized by RCW 43.43.752 through 43.43.758.  The rules must also identify appropriate sources and collection methods for biological samples needed for purposes of DNA identification analysis.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4.  A new section is added to chapter 43.43 RCW to read as follows:

    Every sentence imposed under chapter 9.94A RCW, for a felony specified in RCW 43.43.754 that is committed on or after the effective date of this act, must include a fee of one hundred dollars for collection of a biological sample as required under RCW 43.43.754, unless the court finds that imposing the fee would result in undue hardship on the offender.  The fee is a court‑ordered legal financial obligation as defined in RCW 9.94A.030, payable by the offender after payment of all other legal financial obligations included in the sentence has been completed.  The clerk of the court shall transmit fees collected to the state treasurer for deposit in the state DNA data base account created under section 5 of this act.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5.  A new section is added to chapter 43.43 RCW to read as follows:

    The state DNA data base account is created in the custody of the state treasurer.  All receipts under section 4 of this act must be deposited into the account.  Expenditures from the account may be used only for creation, operation, and maintenance of the DNA data base under RCW 43.43.754.  Only the chief of the Washington state patrol or the chief's designee may authorize expenditures from the account.  The account is subject to allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW, but an appropriation is not required for expenditures.

 

    Sec. 6.  RCW 9.94A.505 and 2001 2nd sp.s. c 12 s 312 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) When a person is convicted of a felony, the court shall impose punishment as provided in this chapter.

    (2)(a) The court shall impose a sentence as provided in the following sections and as applicable in the case:

    (i) Unless another term of confinement applies, the court shall impose a sentence within the standard sentence range established in RCW 9.94A.510;

    (ii) RCW 9.94A.700 and 9.94A.705, relating to community placement;

    (iii) RCW 9.94A.710 and 9.94A.715, relating to community custody;

    (iv) RCW 9.94A.545, relating to community custody for offenders whose term of confinement is one year or less;

    (v) RCW 9.94A.570, relating to persistent offenders;

    (vi) RCW 9.94A.540, relating to mandatory minimum terms;

    (vii) RCW 9.94A.650, relating to the first-time offender waiver;

    (viii) RCW 9.94A.660, relating to the drug offender sentencing alternative;

    (ix) RCW 9.94A.670, relating to the special sex offender sentencing alternative;

    (x) RCW 9.94A.712, relating to certain sex offenses;

    (xi) RCW 9.94A.535, relating to exceptional sentences;

    (xii) RCW 9.94A.589, relating to consecutive and concurrent sentences.

    (b) If a standard sentence range has not been established for the offender's crime, the court shall impose a determinate sentence which may include not more than one year of confinement; community service work; until July 1, 2000, a term of community supervision not to exceed one year and on and after July 1, 2000, a term of community custody not to exceed one year, subject to conditions and sanctions as authorized in RCW 9.94A.710 (2) and (3); and/or other legal financial obligations.  The court may impose a sentence which provides more than one year of confinement if the court finds reasons justifying an exceptional sentence as provided in RCW 9.94A.535.

    (3) If the court imposes a sentence requiring confinement of thirty days or less, the court may, in its discretion, specify that the sentence be served on consecutive or intermittent days.  A sentence requiring more than thirty days of confinement shall be served on consecutive days.  Local jail administrators may schedule court-ordered intermittent sentences as space permits.

    (4) If a sentence imposed includes payment of a legal financial obligation, it shall be imposed as provided in RCW 9.94A.750, 9.94A.753, ((and)) 9.94A.760, and section 4 of this act.

    (5) Except as provided under RCW 9.94A.750(4) and 9.94A.753(4), a court may not impose a sentence providing for a term of confinement or community supervision, community placement, or community custody which exceeds the statutory maximum for the crime as provided in chapter 9A.20 RCW.

    (6) The sentencing court shall give the offender credit for all confinement time served before the sentencing if that confinement was solely in regard to the offense for which the offender is being sentenced.

    (7) The court shall order restitution as provided in RCW 9.94A.750 and 9.94A.753.

    (8) As a part of any sentence, the court may impose and enforce crime-related prohibitions and affirmative conditions as provided in this chapter.

    (9) The court may order an offender whose sentence includes community placement or community supervision to undergo a mental status evaluation and to participate in available outpatient mental health treatment, if the court finds that reasonable grounds exist to believe that the offender is a mentally ill person as defined in RCW 71.24.025, and that this condition is likely to have influenced the offense.  An order requiring mental status evaluation or treatment must be based on a presentence report and, if applicable, mental status evaluations that have been filed with the court to determine the offender's competency or eligibility for a defense of insanity.  The court may order additional evaluations at a later date if deemed appropriate.

    (10) In any sentence of partial confinement, the court may require the offender to serve the partial confinement in work release, in a program of home detention, on work crew, or in a combined program of work crew and home detention.

    (11) In sentencing an offender convicted of a crime of domestic violence, as defined in RCW 10.99.020, if the offender has a minor child, or if the victim of the offense for which the offender was convicted has a minor child, the court may, as part of any term of community supervision, community placement, or community custody, order the offender to participate in a domestic violence perpetrator program approved under RCW 26.50.150.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 7.  If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 8.  Section 1 of this act is added to chapter 43.43 RCW.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 9.  This act takes effect July 1, 2002.

 


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