FINAL BILL REPORT

SSB 5133

C 180 L 03

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Adopting the revised interstate compact for juveniles.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Children & Family Services & Corrections (originally sponsored by Senators Carlson, Stevens, Hargrove, McCaslin, Kline, Sheahan, Kohl-Welles, Schmidt, McAuliffe, Oke, Rossi, Regala, Esser, Deccio, Swecker, Brandland, Parlette, Zarelli and Rasmussen).

Senate Committee on Children & Family Services & Corrections

House Committee on Juvenile Justice & Family Law

Background: The current Interstate Compact on Juveniles was adopted in 1955. It allows states to cooperate in the supervision of juvenile offenders residing in states other than the original state of adjudication, and for the return of juveniles who have run away or escaped across state lines.

Concerns have been raised that the existing compact is outdated, does not provide a mechanism for resolving disputes between states, does not take into consideration the growth of juvenile issues, and has become inconsistent due to various amendments by individual states.

Summary: Adopting the compact makes Washington a compacting state and a voting member of the Interstate Commission. The commission is charged with promulgating the rules used to govern the compacting states, as well as the rules used in the day-to-day operation of the compact. The compact also contains enabling language, clarifies limits on the impact of the compact on the state's ability to legislate regarding juveniles, and requires the Governor to select the compact administrator from a list of six individuals, with three names provided by the Juvenile Court Administrators and three names provided by the Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate       47   0

House       85  10  (House amended)

Senate       43   0  (Senate concurred)

Effective: July 1, 2004, or when the interstate compact for juveniles is adopted by 35 or more states, whichever occurs later.