VETO MESSAGE ON SSB 6162

May 6, 2009

To the Honorable President and Members,
The Senate of the State of Washington

Ladies and Gentlemen:

I have approved, except for Section 3, Substitute Senate Bill 6162 entitled:

"AN ACT Relating to criminal justice: Providing for the supervision of offenders sentenced to community custody regardless of risk classification if the offender has a current conviction for a serious violent offense as defined in RCW 9.94A.030."

Substitute Senate Bill 6162 corrects an error in Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5288 by ensuring that all serious violent offenders are sentenced to community custody regardless of risk level. I have vetoed the emergency clause in ESSB 5288, and so I am also vetoing the emergency clause in Section 3 of SSB 6162 as it is not necessary.

For this reason, I have vetoed Section 3 of Substitute Senate Bill 6162. With the exception of Section 3, Substitute Senate Bill 6162 is approved.

Respectfully submitted,
Christine Gregoire
Governor