HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB 2786
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in
their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a
statement of legislative intent.
As Amended by the Senate
Title: An act relating to including level I offenders who fail to maintain registration as required by RCW 9A.44.130 to the statewide notification web site.
Brief Description: Including level I offenders who fail to maintain registration as required by RCW 9A.44.130 to the statewide notification web site.
Sponsors: By Representatives Kelley, Hurst, Lantz, Upthegrove, Pearson, Morrell, Priest, Kenney, Haler, Williams, Loomis, Smith, Bailey, Kristiansen, McCune, Simpson and VanDeWege; by request of Governor Gregoire.
Brief History:
Public Safety & Emergency Preparedness: 1/23/08 [DP].
Floor Activity:
Passed House: 2/12/08, 97-0.
Senate Amended.
Passed Senate: 3/7/08, 44-0.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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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 must register
with the county sheriff of the county in which he or she resides. The offender must provide a
variety of information upon registration including name, complete residential address, date
and place of birth, place of employment, crime of conviction, date and place of conviction,
aliases, Social Security number, photograph, and fingerprints.
Law enforcement agencies are authorized to release information regarding registered sex
offenders based on the offenders' risk level. For example, for a risk level I offender
(evaluated as presenting the least amount of risk to the larger community), a law enforcement
agency may only disclose the offender's information to specified persons and entities; e.g.,
schools, victims, and witnesses. For a risk level III offender (evaluated as presenting the
largest amount of risk to the larger community), a law enforcement agency may disclose the
offender's information to the public at large.
In addition, the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs operates a Web site
that contains information on all registered kidnapping offenders and all registered level II and
level III sex offenders. The Web site is capable of showing the location of registered sex
offenders on a map and is searchable by county, city, zip code, last name, type of conviction,
and address by hundred block.
Summary of Bill:
The Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs must include level I sex offenders
who fail to maintain registration on the statewide sex offender Web site.
EFFECT OF SENATE AMENDMENT(S):
Instead of including on the sex offender web site level I sex offenders "who fail to maintain
registration," the Senate amendment includes on the sex offender web site level I sex
offenders "during the time they are out of compliance with registration requirements."
Appropriation: None.
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) This bill will streamline the process for placing level I sex offenders who fail to
meet the registration requirements on the statewide sex and kidnapping offender Web site.
The bill does not apply to all level I sex offenders; only those who fail to maintain
registration must be placed on the Web site. This bill will encourage level I sex offenders to
maintain registration. The bill will also increase public safety and help law enforcement
apprehend sex offenders who are failing to maintain registration.
(Opposed) None.
Persons Testifying: Representative Kelley, prime sponsor; John Lane, Governor's Policy Office; and Dan Kimball, Thurston County Sheriff.