Title: An act relating to defining civil disorder.

Brief Description: Defining civil disorder.

Sponsors: Senators Kline, Jacobsen, Shin, Weinstein and Murray.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Judiciary: 2/21/07, 2/28/07 [DP, w/oRec].

Passed Senate: 2/12/08, 47-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY

Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by Senators Kline, Chair; Tom, Vice Chair; Hargrove, Murray, Roach and Weinstein.

Minority Report: That it be referred without recommendation.Signed by Senator Carrell.

Staff: Lidia Mori (786-7755)

Background: In 2002, the Legislature passed an anti-"civil disorder training" bill making it illegal to instruct others in how to commit violent public disturbances intended to hurt people. Proponents believe that this change successfully prevented hate groups from operating paramilitary training camps in Washington. But, proponents of this bill believe the existing law has a loophole, in that it does not prohibit training in how to commit violent disturbances if those violent disturbances are intended to destroy property.

Summary of Bill: "Civil disorder" means any public disturbance involving acts of violence that is intended to cause an immediate danger of, or to result in, significant injury to property or the person of any other individual.

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: PRO: This bill will close a loophole. After this statute was originally passed, there was a drop off in the number of groups from other states crossing into Washington in order to conduct training in Washington. So the statute did what it was supposed to do.

Persons Testifying: PRO: David Cohen, Anti-Defamation League.