Title: An act relating to requiring registered sex and kidnapping offenders to submit information regarding any e-mail addresses and any web sites they create or operate.

Brief Description: Requiring registered sex and kidnapping offenders to submit information regarding any e-mail addresses and any web sites they create or operate.

Sponsors: Representatives Pearson, McCune, Priest, Haler, Armstrong, Kristiansen, Crouse, Rodne, Bailey, Hinkle, Hailey, Kretz, Warnick, Sump, Roach, Orcutt, Newhouse, Ahern, Alexander, Skinner, Hurst, Schindler, Walsh, Smith, Campbell, Dunn, Herrera, Kelley and McDonald.

Brief History:

Public Safety & Emergency Preparedness: 1/23/08 [DP];

Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government & Audit Review: 2/5/08, 2/7/08[DPS].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY & EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 7 members: Representatives O'Brien, Chair; Hurst, Vice Chair; Pearson, Ranking Minority Member; Ross, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Ahern, Goodman and Kirby.

Staff: Jim Morishima (786-7191).

Background:

Under the Community Protection Act of 1990, a sex or kidnapping offender is required to register in the county in which he or she resides. Law enforcement agencies use the information in the registry to notify the public of a sex offender's presence in the community. A sex or kidnapping offender must provide the following information when registering:

• name;
• complete residential address (a homeless offender must provide a description where he or she plans to stay);
• date and place of birth;
• place of employment;
• crime of conviction;
• date and place of conviction;
• aliases used;
• Social Security number;
• photograph; and
• fingerprints.

Summary of Bill:

A registered sex or kidnapping offender must, when registering, provide his or her electronic mail address and the uniform resource locator of any personal Web site he or she created or operates.

Appropriation: An unspecified amount is appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2009, from the General Fund to the Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) Many young people use the Internet for social networking. Sex and kidnapping offenders often use the Internet to groom young people. This is a common sense way to increase public safety.

(Opposed) None.

Persons Testifying: Representative Pearson, prime sponsor.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE ON GENERAL GOVERNMENT & AUDIT REVIEW

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 14 members: Representatives Linville, Chair; Ericks, Vice Chair; Armstrong, Ranking Minority Member; Skinner, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Alexander, Blake, Chandler, Kretz, Lantz, Liias, Miloscia, Morris, Nelson and Van De Wege.

Staff: Owen Rowe (786-7391).

Summary of Recommendation of Committee On Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government & Audit Review Compared to Recommendation of Committee On Public Safety & Emergency Preparedness:

The Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government and Audit Review recommended removal of the non-specified General Fund appropriation, and the requirement that the Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development distribute appropriated funds to counties based on the total number of registered sex offenders in each county. A null and void clause was added, making the bill null and void unless referenced in the budget.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed. However, the bill is null and void unless funded in the budget.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: None.

Persons Testifying: None.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.