FINAL BILL REPORT

SSB 5550

C 50 L 03

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Prohibiting secure community transition facilities from being sited near public and private youth camps.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Children & Family Services & Corrections (originally sponsored by Senators West, Stevens, Kastama, Roach, Kline, Johnson, Fairley, T. Sheldon, Thibaudeau, Benton, Keiser, Eide, Prentice, Kohl-Welles, Esser, Shin, Oke and Winsley).

Senate Committee on Children & Family Services & Corrections

House Committee on Criminal Justice & Corrections

Background: In 2001, the Legislature passed 3ESSB 6151. The bill was enacted and became effective June 26, 2001. The act established the Joint Select Committee for Equitable Distribution of Secure Community Transition Facilities (Committee). The Committee was charged with reviewing and making any necessary revisions to the provisions for equitable distribution and siting of secure community transition facilities (SCTFs). The Committee produced a report and recommended legislation. That legislation became ESSB 6594, which was enacted on March 21, 2002.

During the Committee work sessions, there were several proposals to adopt a broader list of risk potential facilities and activities. The only amendment the Committee made to that section was to define "school bus stop." The legislation also required King, Snohomish, Kitsap, Thurston, Clark, and Spokane counties, and the cities in those counties, to adopt or amend their development regulations to address the siting of SCTFs. Cities or counties that did not adopt regulations in compliance with the statutory requirements by October 1, 2002, would be preempted by operation of law and DSHS would be able to site without regard to existing development regulations or other laws.

Summary: The definition of risk potential facilities and activities includes public and private youth camps. An SCTF may not be sited adjacent to, across the street from, or within the line of sight of a risk potential facility or activity unless the site was identified pursuant to a process for siting adopted by a city or county in compliance with the requirement to develop regulations for siting requirements under ESSB 6594.

The legislation applies prospectively and does not apply to development regulations adopted or amended prior to the effective date of the act.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate       49  0

House       95  0

Effective: April 17, 2003