SENATE BILL REPORT
SHB 2756
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 Reported By Senate Committee On:
Human Services & Corrections, February 28, 2008
Title: An act relating to logging the telephone calls of residents of the special commitment center.
Brief Description: Logging the telephone calls of residents of the special commitment center.
Sponsors: House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Kelley, Green, Wallace, Rodne, McCune, Goodman, VanDeWege, Lantz, Seaquist, Hurst and Simpson).
Brief History: Passed House: 2/15/08, 94-0.
Committee Activity: Human Services & Corrections: 2/26/08, 2/28/08 [DPA].
SENATE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES & CORRECTIONS
Majority Report: Do pass as amended.Signed by Senators Hargrove, Chair; Regala, Vice Chair; Stevens, Ranking Minority Member; Brandland, Carrell, Marr and McAuliffe.
Staff: Kevin Black (786-7747)
Background: Persons who are found to be sexually violent predators under Chapter 71.09 RCW are committed to the Special Commitment Center (SCC), located on McNeil Island in Pierce County, Washington. Residents of the SCC have unregulated access to pay telephones at the facility. Staff from the SCC reports that residents of the SCC have occasionally made harassing telephone calls from the facility, and telephone calls that violate restrictions of a resident's treatment plan.
Summary of Bill (Recommended Amendments): The Department of Social and Health
Services (DSHS) must maintain a log of phone calls made by residents of the SCC. The log must
indicate the date and time when each phone call was made, the length of the call, the name of the
resident who made the call, and the number called. DSHS must contract with a private
organization to maintain the log, and must attempt to recover the costs of maintaining the log
from the residents who use the telephone system..
If specific funding is not provided, the act is null and void.
EFFECT OF CHANGES MADE BY HUMAN SERVICES & CORRECTIONS COMMITTEE (Recommended Amendments): DSHS must contract with a private organization and must attempt to recover the cost of maintaining the phone log from the residents of SCC who use the phone system.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony on Substitute Bill: PRO: Staff at the SCC say that inappropriate calls are being made by SCC residents to staff and people in the community. This bill would create a deterrent and protect communities. We have had a hard time tracking and detecting calls that are illegal or non-therapeutic.
Persons Testifying: PRO: Representative Pearson, prime sponsor, Henry Richards, Special Commitment Center.