| Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research |
BILL ANALYSIS |
| Public Safety & Emergency Preparedness Committee | |
HB 2569
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.
Brief Description: Providing funding to local government for purposes of registered sex and kidnapping offender address verification and community notification.
Sponsors: Representatives Dickerson, O'Brien, Lantz, Takko, Williams, Seaquist, Morrell, Ormsby, Liias, Miloscia, Hurst, McIntire, Kenney, Campbell, VanDeWege, Barlow, Green and Simpson.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 1/23/08
Staff: Jim Morishima (786-7191).
Background:
Under the Community Protection Act of 1990, a sex and kidnapping offender must register with
the county sheriff of the county in which he or she resides. This requirement also applies to
offenders convicted of sex and kidnapping offenses in other states who subsequently move to
Washington. An 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 to community notification, law enforcement agencies are required to make reasonable
attempts to verify that an offender is living at his or her registered address. At a minimum,
address verification must consist of sending a verification form to the offender's registered
address. The form must be sent at least every 90 days for offenders who have been designated as
sexually violent predators. For all other offenders, the form must be sent out at least once a year.
A law enforcement agency must make reasonable attempts to locate an offender who fails to
return the form.
Summary of Bill:
A $5 million appropriation is made for the Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2009, from the Public
Safety and Education Account to the Criminal Justice Training Commission for purposes of
assisting local law enforcement agencies: (a) to verify the addresses and residency of registered
sex and kidnapping offenders; and (b) to notify the community of registered sex and kidnapping
offenders within their jurisdictions. The funds are to be distributed to the local law enforcement
agencies by the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs.
Appropriation: The sum of $5 million is made for the Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2009, from the Public Safety and Education Account to the Criminal Justice Training Commission.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.