Title: An act relating to a model policy for disclosure of sex offender information.

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

Sponsors: Senators Regala, Brandland, Franklin, Doumit, Rasmussen, Carrell, Haugen, Pridemore, Kline, Stevens, Keiser, Berkey, Thibaudeau, Jacobsen, Pflug, Sheldon, Kohl-Welles, McAuliffe, Roach and Benton.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Human Services & Corrections: 1/19/06, 2/1/06 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES & CORRECTIONS

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6320 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.Signed by Senators Hargrove, Chair; Regala, Vice Chair; Stevens, Ranking Minority Member; Brandland, Carrell, McAuliffe and Thibaudeau.

Staff: Kiki Keizer (786-7430)

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 of Substitute Bill: 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.

The bill has a null and void clause if it is not funded by June 30, 2006.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill: The following persons are added to the list of persons with whom the WASPC must consult while revising its model policy for law enforcement agencies with respect to sex offender registration, community notification, and strategies for sex offender management: the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction; the Criminal Justice Training Commission; the Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers; the Association of Washington Cities; and the Washington Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs. The revision process must include an examination of how notification documents are distributed to schools.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

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

Testimony For: Things have changed since the first WASPC Model Policy was created in the 1990's. It's a good idea to revise the policy and provide for stronger training for law enforcement officers assigned duties in this area. WASPC and DOC should work together to track the patterns of local sheriffs' departures from risk level assessments.

Testimony Against: None.

Who Testified: PRO: Don Pierce, Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs.