Title: An act relating to the registration of homeless sex offenders.

Brief Description: Requiring more registration information from homeless sex offenders.

Sponsors: Senators Benton, Rasmussen, Benson, Stevens, Carrell, Delvin, Schoesler, Honeyford, Franklin, Johnson, Oke and Roach.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Human Services & Corrections: 1/26/06.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES & CORRECTIONS

Staff: Kiki Keizer (786-7430)

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 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. A person without a fixed residence must also provide information on where he or she plans to stay.

A person with a fixed residence need not go to the county sheriff's office to check in or to re-register. However, registered persons who are not sexually violent predators must respond annually to a mailing to verify their address, and persons classified as sexually violent predators must do this every 90 days. Homeless offenders subject to registration requirements must check in with the county sheriff once a week.

A person who knowingly fails to register or to notify the sheriff, or who changes his or her name without notifying the sheriff or the Washington State Patrol, is guilty of the crime of failure to register.

If the crime requiring registration was a felony, failure to meet the registration requirements is a class C felony. The seriousness of this offense is not ranked for purposes of sentencing and may include up to 12 months in jail, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. If the crime requiring registration was a misdemeanor or a gross misdemeanor, failure to register is a gross misdemeanor, punishable by up to 12 months in jail, a fine of $5,000, or both.

Summary of Bill: In addition to all of the other information that must be provided when registering as a sex offender or kidnapper in the state of Washington, a person subject to the registration requirements, who lacks a fixed residence, must provide his last known address and the address and phone number of his or her nearest relative.

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.