Brief Description: Creating a pilot project for registration of methamphetamine offenders.

Sponsors: Representatives Pearson, Lovick, B. Sullivan, Sells, Ericks, Green, O'Brien, Strow, Kristiansen, P. Sullivan, Woods, Kilmer, Roach and McCune.

Hearing Date: 2/2/06

Staff: Lara Zarowsky (786-7119) and Yvonne Walker (786-7841).

Background:

In 1990, the Legislature enacted the Community Protection Act, which, among other things, created a sex offender registry in Washington. A sex or kidnapping offender must register with the county sheriff in the county in which he or she resides. The offender must also notify the sheriff when he or she enrolls in a public or private school or an institution of higher education. Law enforcement officials use the information in the registry to notify the public, within certain guidelines, of a kidnapping or sex offender's presence in the community.

Information Provided upon Registration

When an offender registers, he or she must provide a variety of information including his or her name, address (a homeless offender must provide a description of where he or she plans to stay), date and place of birth, place of employment, crime of conviction, date and place of conviction, aliases used, Social Security number, photograph, and fingerprints.

Out-of-State Registrants

An offender subject to the registration requirements who moves to Washington from another state, or who is a former Washington resident returning to this state, must register within 30 days of establishing a residence in Washington.

Written Notices

A registered sex or kidnapping offender who changes addresses within a county must send written notice to the county sheriff within 72 hours of moving. If the offender moves to the new county, he or she must provide written notice to the sheriff of the new county at least 14 days prior to moving and must provide written notice to the sheriff of the old county within 10 days of moving. An offender who becomes homeless must send written notice to the county sheriff within 48 hours of becoming homeless.

Homeless Offenders

Homeless offenders must check in with the county sheriff once a week on a date specified by the sheriff. The sheriff may require the offender to list the places where he or she stayed during the previous week.

Criminal Penalties

An offender who knowingly fails to register or notify the county sheriff, or who changes his or her name without notifying the county sheriff or the Washington State Patrol, is guilty of a crime. The offender is guilty of an "unranked" class C felony (zero-12 months in jail, a fine of up to $10,000, or both) if the crime that caused the person to register was a felony. The person is guilty of a gross misdemeanor (zero-12 months in jail, a fine of up to $5,000, or both) if the crime that caused the person to register was a misdemeanor or a gross misdemeanor.

Summary of Bill:

A pilot project is established requiring offenders convicted of a felony methamphetamine drug offense to register with local law enforcement in accordance with the registration requirements currently in effect for kidnapping offenders. The duration of the pilot project will extend from the effective date of the bill until July 1, 2007, and will operate in any county with a population over 600,000 but less than 700,000.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Preliminary fiscal note available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.