SB 5787 - DIGEST

     Requires the Washington state institute for public policy to convene an advisory committee to provide oversight for a study of the fairness of implementation of the death penalty in the state of Washington.  The study shall address the concerns raised by the American bar association policy of February 3, 1997, and the resolution of the Washington state bar association on August 4, 2000, specifically:

     (1) The adequacy of funding for defense counsel for indigent defendants accused of capital offenses;

     (2) The qualifications that should be required of defense counsel in capital cases;

     (3) Whether there are systemic problems affecting implementation of the death penalty in Washington;

     (4) Whether prosecutorial standards or criteria for seeking imposition of the death penalty are consistent statewide and what standards are appropriate;

     (5) What impact the imposition of the death penalty has on county budgets, particularly in small counties, and what budgetary steps can be taken to minimize the impacts; and

     (6) Whether the Special Pleadings Rules (Criminal), issued by the Washington supreme court in 1997, have been implemented statewide in a consistent and effective manner.

     Appropriates the sum of two hundred forty thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, from the general fund to the ......for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2002, to carry out the purposes of this act.