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ENGROSSED SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 6580
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State of Washington59th Legislature2006 Regular Session

By Senate Committee on Human Services & Corrections (originally sponsored by Senators McAuliffe, Schmidt, Weinstein, Carrell, Berkey, Rasmussen, Oke and Shin)

READ FIRST TIME 02/03/06.   



     AN ACT Relating to sex offender and kidnapping offender notification and information sharing in schools; creating new sections; and providing an expiration date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   (1) The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall convene a work group to develop a model policy for schools to follow when they receive notification pursuant to RCW 9A.44.130. The model policy must address, among other issues:
     (a) The designation of appropriate school personnel to receive notification of information received pursuant to RCW 9A.44.130;
     (b) Identification of school personnel who are in a position to recognize high-risk situations or factors that may indicate the offender is encountering difficulty in controlling his or her behavior;
     (c) Whether some portion of the records received from the juvenile rehabilitation administration or court personnel is confidential or otherwise protected;
     (d) To whom some portion of the information received must or should be disclosed;
     (e) How to assist juvenile offenders in making a safe and successful transition from institutional schools to public schools;
     (f) How to work with juvenile probation and juvenile parole professionals in implementing a safety plan;
     (g) What actions school authorities may take when they identify high-risk situations, both for the short-term and long-term safety of other students; and
     (h) Variations in approaches depending on the offender level of the enrolled offender.
     (2) In carrying out its duties under this section, the office of the superintendent of public instruction shall consult, as appropriate, with representatives from other agencies and professional organizations, including:
     (a) The Washington state school directors association;
     (b) The department of corrections;
     (c) County sheriffs' offices;
     (d) Prosecuting attorneys;
     (e) Juvenile probation counselors;
     (f) Juvenile court administrators;
     (g) The juvenile rehabilitation administration of the department of social and health services;
     (h) Elementary and secondary school districts;
     (i) Educational service districts;
     (j) The Washington association of school administrators;
     (k) The Washington state parent-teacher association;
     (l) Parents and guardians of school-age children;
     (m) Washington coalition of sexual assault programs; and
     (n) Other individuals with related experience as deemed appropriate.
     (3) The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall submit to appropriate committees of the legislature a final report and recommendations by November 15, 2006.
     (4) This section expires July 1, 2007.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   The Washington coalition of sexual assault programs, in consultation with the Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs, the Washington association of prosecuting attorneys, and the office of the superintendent of public instruction, shall develop educational materials to be made available throughout the state to inform parents and other interested community members about:
     (1) The laws related to sex offenses, including registration, community notification and the classification of sex offenders based on an assessment of the risk of reoffending;
     (2) How to recognize behaviors characteristic of sex offenses and sex offenders;
     (3) How to prevent victimization, particularly that of young children;
     (4) How to take advantage of community resources for victims of sexual assault; and
     (5) Other information as deemed appropriate.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   If specific funding for the purposes of section 2 of this act, referencing section 2 of this act by bill or chapter number and section number is not provided by June 30, 2006, in the omnibus appropriations act, section 2 of this act is null and void.

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