FINAL BILL REPORT
ESSB 6580
C 135 L 06
Synopsis as Enacted
Brief Description: Creating work groups to evaluate issues relating to juvenile sex offenders and kidnapping offenders in schools.
Sponsors: Senate Committee on Human Services & Corrections (originally sponsored by Senators McAuliffe, Schmidt, Weinstein, Carrell, Berkey, Rasmussen, Oke and Shin).
Senate Committee on Human Services & Corrections
House Committee on Juvenile Justice & Family Law
Background: In 2005, the Legislature passed HB 2101, requiring any adult or juvenile who
must register as a sex offender, and who enrolls in any public or private common school, to notify
the sheriff of his or her intent to enroll in the school. The report must be made within ten days
of enrolling or prior to arriving to attend classes, whichever is earlier. The sheriff must promptly
notify the school principal.
If the student is a Level I sex offender, the principal must notify only those persons on the staff
who, in the judgment of the principal, need to be aware of the student's record for security
purposes. If the student is a Level II or Level III sex offender, the principal must notify all of the
student's teachers and any other person who, in the judgment of the principal, supervises the
student or needs to be aware of the student's record for security purposes.
Any information received by the principal as a result of the report is confidential and may not be
further disseminated except as provided in state or federal law. The notification provisions of HB
2101 take effect September 1, 2006.
The law further requires the Safety Center of the Office of the Superintendent of Public
Instruction (OSPI) to review the types and amounts of training that will be necessary for
principals, teachers, supervisors, and school staff to implement the new law and report back to
the Legislature by January 1, 2006.
In 2005, representatives from education, law enforcement, juvenile justice, sex offender
specialists, and both child and victim advocacy groups met to discuss the training component of
HB 2101. That Task Force concluded that training could not properly be addressed without first
addressing notification and information sharing issues. As an initial step, the Task Force
recommended:
Summary: The OSPI is required to convene a workgroup to develop a model policy for schools
to follow when receiving notification from the sheriff's office that a sex offender is enrolled.
Issues that must be addressed by the model policy are specified.
OSPI must consult with representatives from other agencies and professional organizations as
appropriate in carrying out its duties under this Act. A final report and recommendations must
be submitted to the appropriate committees of the Legislature by November 15, 2006.
The Washington Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs is required to create educational materials
for parents and other interested community members on how to recognize sex offender behaviors
and keep themselves and their children safe. The materials must be developed in consultation
with the WASPC, the Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, and the OSPI.
Votes on Final Passage:
Senate 48 0
House 97 0
Effective: June 7, 2006