SENATE BILL REPORT

SSB 5780

As Passed Senate, March 13, 2003

Title: An act relating to the municipal criminal justice assistance account.

Brief Description: Revising method for making distributions under the municipal criminal justice assistance account.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Children & Family Services & Corrections (originally sponsored by Senators Stevens, Hargrove and Shin; by request of Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development).

Brief History:

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

Passed Senate: 3/13/03, 48-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES & CORRECTIONS

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5780 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: Funds from the municipal criminal justice assistance account are distributed to cities using a variety of criteria including crime rate, population, and program requirements. The funds are to be used for specific purposes related to criminal justice such as crime prevention, child abuse, and domestic violence. A specific percentage of the overall fund is earmarked for specific programs within the cities receiving funds. The actual distribution of the funds are based on a funding request from the cities to the Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development (CTED).

Summary of Bill: There is no longer a requirement for a funding request from the cities to CTED. The portion of the fund going to the cities for some of the specific purposes is distributed on a per capita basis. The cities then decide how the funds will be used within the acceptable criteria.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

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

Testimony For: It is no longer cost effective for the state Office of Community, Trade, and Economic Development to process 880 funding applications annually to distribute the amount of money in the municipal criminal justice assistance account.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified: Tom McBride, Community, Trade, and Economic Development (pro).