Title: An act relating to sex offender treatment providers.

Brief Description: Prohibiting certification of sex offenders as sex offender treatment providers.

Sponsors: House Committee on Criminal Justice & Corrections (originally sponsored by Representatives Darneille, Strow, O'Brien, Lantz, Rodne, Simpson, Clibborn, McDonald, Conway, Miloscia, B. Sullivan and Ericks).

Brief History: Passed House: 2/08/06, 98-0.

Committee Activity: Human Services & Corrections: 2/20/06, 2/23/06 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES & CORRECTIONS

Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by Senators Hargrove, Chair; Regala, Vice Chair; Stevens, Ranking Minority Member; Carrell and McAuliffe.

Staff: Kiki Keizer (786-7430)

Background: Sex offender treatment providers and affiliate sex offender treatment providers may examine and treat sex offenders who are not confined but, rather, remain in the community. The Department of Health (DOH) is authorized to determine the minimum requirements necessary to serve as a treatment provider for this population and operates a certification process, through which it may grant or deny certification to potential treatment providers in the community.

Sex offender treatment in institutions operated by the Department of Corrections (DOC) and the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) may be provided by forensic therapists, psychologists, and other professionals who are not required to be certified as sex offender treatment providers or affiliate sex offender treatment providers through the DOH. Persons who provide such treatment in the institutions are, however, subject to a screening process that includes meeting minimum requirements for employment in the field, national fingerprint background checks, and reference checks. Unlike sex offender treatment providers in the community, who may or may not be sole practitioners, treatment providers in the institutions are subject to supervision and oversight.

Summary of Bill: The statute controlling the certification process for sex offender treatment providers and affiliate sex offender treatment providers in the community is amended to preclude certification by the Department of Health if the person seeking certification has been convicted of a sex offense.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

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

Testimony For: People coming from out of state are not currently precluded from licensure as sex offender treatment providers in the community if they have a previous conviction of a sex offense.

Testimony Against: None.

Who Testified: PRO: Rep. Jeannie Darneille, prime sponsor. CON: No one.