| Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research |
BILL ANALYSIS |
| Public Safety & Emergency Preparedness Committee | |
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.
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: 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 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 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.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.