Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Public Safety & Emergency Preparedness Committee |
HB 2035
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: Requiring registered sex and kidnapping offenders to submit information regarding any e-mail addresses and any web sites they create or operate.
Sponsors: Representatives Klippert, O'Brien, Shea, Haler, Roach, Armstrong, Pearson, McCune, Condotta, Orwall, Ross, Hurst, Smith, Kristiansen, Kretz, Orcutt, Kelley, Warnick and Angel.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 2/18/09
Staff: Lara Zarowsky (786-7123)
Background:
A sex or kidnapping offender must register with the county sheriff of the county in which he or she resides. The offender must also notify the county sheriff if he or she 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, subject to certain guidelines, of a sex offender’s presence in the community.
An offender who serves a term of confinement pursuant to a conviction for a sex or kidnapping offense must register at the time of release with the agency that has jurisdiction over the offender. The agency must then transmit the information within three days to the county sheriff. The offender must also register with the county sheriff within 24 hours of release.
An offender who changes his or her address or becomes homeless must provide written notice to the county sheriff of his or her change in status. Homeless offenders must report weekly to the county sheriff. Level II and III sex offenders who have a fixed residence must report to the county sheriff every 90 days.
An offender must provide the following information to comply with registration requirements:
name;
complete residential address;
date and place of birth;
place of employment;
crime for which convicted;
date and place of conviction;
aliases used;
Social Security number;
photograph; and
fingerprints.
Summary of Bill:
In addition to existing reporting requirements, sex and kidnapping offenders required to register with the county sheriff must report: (1) their electronic mail (e-mail) address information or any Internet communication name or identity information including but not limited to instant message, chat, or social networking names or identities; and (2) the uniform resource locator (URL) of any personal website created or operated by the offender.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on February 11, 2009.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.