Brief Description: Revising the model policy for disclosure of sex offender information.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Human Services & Corrections (originally sponsored by Senators Regala, Brandland, Franklin, Doumit, Rasmussen, Carrell, Haugen, Pridemore, Kline, Stevens, Keiser, Berkey, Thibaudeau, Jacobsen, Pflug, Sheldon, Kohl-Welles, McAuliffe, Roach and Benton).

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

Background: In 2005, the Legislature established a task force to review a number of issues in connection with sex offender placement in communities and community notification and safety. The task force held five public meetings and issued a report to the Legislature and the Governor in December 2005.

The report included a number of recommendations. One such recommendation was that the Criminal Justice Training Commission, the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC), the Department of Corrections, the Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration, and the state's juvenile court administrators should collaborate to develop and implement curriculum and training for local law enforcement, community corrections officers, and community members.

Summary: When funded, the WASPC must convene a sex offender model policy work group. The work group must conduct a series of community meetings around state to identify best practices on registration, community notification, and strategies for sex offender management. Certain subject areas must be addressed in the model policy.

The work group's final draft model policy will be presented to the WASPC for adoption or rejection. If adopted, the WASPC must train law enforcement personnel on the new policy, as needed, across the state.

Subject to future funding, the WASPC would be authorized to continue to conduct workshops and training on this subject matter.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate      46   1
House      98   0

Effective: June 7, 2006