SENATE BILL REPORT

SSB 5588

As Passed Senate, March 17, 2003

Title: An act relating to pilot regional correctional facilities.

Brief Description: Requiring a plan to establish pilot regional correctional facilities.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Children & Family Services & Corrections (originally sponsored by Senators Kline, Esser, Roach and Kohl-Welles; by request of Sentencing Guidelines Commission).

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Children & Family Services & Corrections: 2/12/03, 2/21/03 [DPS].

Passed Senate: 3/17/03, 48-1.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES & CORRECTIONS

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5588 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Stevens, Chair; Parlette, Vice Chair; Carlson, Deccio, Hargrove, McAuliffe and Regala.

Staff: Tony Rugel (786-7754)

Background: Concerns have been raised that changes in the Sentencing Reform Act have resulted in the increase of jail and prison sentences, as well as an increase in the number of inmates. To reduce the burden of these increases and to make a more economic use of state and local funds, some feel that state and local corrections authorities could share resources and jurisdiction over regional correctional facilities.

Summary of Bill: The Sentencing Guidelines Commission must present to the Legislature a plan for establishing pilot regional correctional facilities no later than December 31, 2003. The plan includes numerous elements regarding the effective and efficient sharing of resources between local and state correctional authorities.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: Importance was given to local control which will be provided by regional correctional facilities.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified: John Austin, Indeterminate Sentence Review Board & Sentencing Guidelines Commission (pro).