Brief Description: Changing registration requirements for sex offenders coming from outside the state who establish or reestablish Washington residency.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Human Services & Corrections (originally sponsored by Senators Stevens, Benton, Carrell, Regala, Benson and Pflug).

Hearing Date: 2/17/06

Staff: Jim Morishima (786-7191).

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 where 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 sex offender's presence in the community.

A sex or kidnapping offender who moves to Washington from another state, or who is a former Washington resident returning to the state, must register within 30 days of establishing a residence in Washington. This requirement applies only to sex offenders convicted of offenses committed on or after February 28, 1990, and kidnapping offenders convicted of offenses committed on or after July 27, 1997.

Summary of Bill:

All out-of-state registrants must register within three business days regardless of when they committed their offenses.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested on February 14, 2006.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect on September 1, 2006.