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).

Senate Committee on Human Services & Corrections
House Committee on Criminal Justice & Corrections

Background: In 1990, the Legislature enacted the Community Protection Act, which created one of the first sex offender registration laws in the country. A person convicted of a sex or kidnapping offense must register with the county sheriff of the county in which he or she lives. The person subject to the registration requirements must provide such information as his or her name, address, date and place of birth, place of employment, crime of conviction, date and place of conviction, aliases, Social Security number, photograph, and fingerprints. He or she must also notify the county sheriff if he or she is enrolled in public or private school or in an institution of higher education.

Summary: A person who is convicted of a sex offense and who enters the state to establish residence in the state must comply with the registration statute within three business days of establishing residence in Washington. New and returning Washington residents must comply with the requirements of the registration statute regardless of when the offenses triggering registration were committed.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate      47   1
House      98   0   (House amended)
Senate            (Senate refused to concur)
House      98   0   (House receded)

Effective:   September 1, 2006