Title: An act relating to the registration of sex offender e-mail addresses or other internet communication names or identities.

Brief Description: Requiring the registration of sex offender e-mail addresses or other internet communication names or identities.

Sponsors: Senator Benton.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Human Services & Corrections: 2/07/08 [DPS, w/oRec]

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES & CORRECTIONS

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6210 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.Signed by Senators Hargrove, Chair; Regala, Vice Chair; Stevens, Ranking Minority Member; Carrell, Marr and McAuliffe.

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

Staff: Shani Bauer (786-7468)

Background: In 1990 the Legislature enacted the Community Protection Act, which, among other things, created a sex offender registry in Washington. A sex or kidnapping offender must register with the county sheriff in the county where that person resides. The offender must also notify the sheriff when that person enrolls in a public or private school or an institution of higher education. Law enforcement officials use the information in the registry to notify the public, within certain guidelines, of a sex offender's presence in the community.

When an offender registers, the offender must provide a variety of information including the offender's name, address (a homeless offender must provide a description of where he or she plans to stay), date and place of birth, place of employment, crime of conviction, date and place of conviction, aliases used, Social Security number, photograph, and fingerprints. A sex or kidnapping offender's picture may be taken at any time to update the individual's file.

Periodically, the police chief or sheriff must make a reasonable attempt to verify that an offender is residing at his or her registered address. At a minimum, reasonable attempt means sending a verification form by certified mail to the offender's address.

The county sheriff is required to forward registration information to the Washington State Patrol (WSP). The WSP maintains a central registry of all sex and kidnapping offenders required to register under state law.

Summary of Bill (Recommended Substitute): A county sheriff may request the email address, internet communication name, and identifier of any personal web site (collectively "email address") from a sex or kidnapping offender who is required to register and forward the information to the WSP. The requirement is a separate statutory provision from the registration statute and therefore a failure to provide an email address would not constitute a failure to register.

The WSP may share information with an online organization or business (such as MySpace) to compare the information with their database. The business or organization must agree not to further distribute the information.

EFFECT OF CHANGES MADE BY HUMAN SERVICES & CORRECTIONS COMMITTEE (Recommended Substitute): Removes provisions that require sex or kidnapping offender to provide his or her email address, internet communication name, and identifier of any personal web site as part of the requirements for registration including the requirement to update this information within 72 hours of changing or creating a new email address.

Allows the county sheriff to request email address information from a sex or kidnapping offender who is required to register and forward the information to the WSP. Permits the WSP to share information with an online organization or business to compare the information with their database. The business or organization must agree not to further distribute the information.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

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 Original Bill: OTHER: We are concerned about the ever increasing requirements for youth who are subject to registration and tracking that impacts their ability to successfully reintegrate back into society as productive citizens. The requirements would be complicated for the average person. Consider an adolescent that must rely on parents or public transportation to meet those requirements. More and more pieces are being added to what youth have to register for. Two-hundred-eighty-five youth are currently on parole for sex offenses and 248 are on community supervision.

Persons Testifying: OTHER: Cheryl Sullivan-Colglazur, Kecia Rongen, DSHS, Juvenile Rehabilitation Association.