ESHB 1547 -
By Senators Hargrove, Carrell, Stevens
ADOPTED 04/21/2011
Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:
"Sec. 1 RCW 9.94A.685 and 1993 c 419 s 1 are each amended to read
as follows:
(1) Subject to the limitations of this section, any alien offender
committed to the custody of the department under the sentencing reform
act of 1981, chapter 9.94A RCW, who has been found by the United States
attorney general to be subject to a final order of deportation or
exclusion, may be placed on conditional release status and released to
the immigration and ((naturalization service)) customs enforcement
agency for deportation at any time prior to the expiration of the
offender's term of confinement. Conditional release shall continue
until the expiration of the statutory maximum sentence provided by law
for the crime or crimes of which the offender was convicted. If the
offender has multiple current convictions, the statutory maximum
sentence allowed by law for each crime shall run concurrently.
(2) No offender may be released under this section unless the
secretary or the secretary's designee ((find [finds] that such release
is in the best interests of the state of Washington. Further, releases
under this section may occur only with the approval of the sentencing
court and the prosecuting attorney of the county of conviction)) has
reached an agreement with the immigration and customs enforcement
agency that the alien offender placed on conditional release status
will be detained in total confinement at a facility operated by the
immigration and customs enforcement agency pending the offender's
return to the country of origin or other location designated in the
final deportation or exclusion order.
(((3))) No offender may be released under this section who is
serving a sentence for a violent offense or sex offense, as defined in
RCW 9.94A.030((, or any other offense that is a crime against a
person)).
(((4))) (3) The unserved portion of the term of confinement of any
offender released under this section shall be tolled at the time the
offender is released to the immigration and ((naturalization service))
customs enforcement agency for deportation. Upon the release of an
offender to the immigration and ((naturalization service)) customs
enforcement agency, the department shall issue a warrant for the
offender's arrest within the United States. This warrant shall remain
in effect ((until the expiration of the offender's conditional
release)) indefinitely.
(((5))) (4) Upon arrest of an offender, the department ((shall))
may seek extradition as necessary and the offender ((shall)) may be
returned to the department for completion of the unserved portion of
the offender's term of total confinement. If returned, the offender
shall also be required to fully comply with all the terms and
conditions of the sentence.
(((6))) (5) Alien offenders released to the immigration and
((naturalization service)) customs enforcement agency for deportation
under this section are not thereby relieved of their obligation to pay
restitution or other legal financial obligations ordered by the
sentencing court.
(((7))) (6) Any offender released pursuant to this section who
returns illegally to the United States may not thereafter be released
again pursuant to this section.
(((8))) (7) The secretary is authorized to take all reasonable
actions to implement this section and shall assist federal authorities
in prosecuting alien offenders who may illegally reenter the United
States and enter the state of Washington.
(8) The provisions of this section apply to persons convicted
before, on, or after the effective date of this section.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2 A new section is added to chapter 9.94A RCW
to read as follows:
(1) The department shall provide a written notice of rights in
removal proceedings to all offenders in the department's custody who
are subject to early release pursuant to RCW 9.94A.685. The notice
shall be provided as early in the removal process as feasible.
(2) The department shall work in conjunction with a qualified
nonprofit legal services organization in the state recognized by the
department of justice pursuant to 8 C.F.R. 1003.61, to create the
written notice required by subsection (1) of this section. A written
notice containing the advisals given to an individual at the first
master calendar hearing in a removal proceeding meets the requirements
of this section.
Sec. 3 RCW 10.40.200 and 1983 c 199 s 1 are each amended to read
as follows:
(1) The legislature finds and declares that in many instances
involving an individual who is not a citizen of the United States
charged with an offense punishable as a crime under state law, a plea
of guilty is entered without the defendant knowing that a conviction of
such offense is grounds for deportation, exclusion from admission to
the United States, or denial of naturalization pursuant to the laws of
the United States. Therefore, it is the intent of the legislature in
enacting this section to promote fairness to such accused individuals
by requiring in such cases that acceptance of a guilty plea be preceded
by an appropriate warning of the special consequences for such a
defendant which may result from the plea. It is further the intent of
the legislature that at the time of the plea no defendant be required
to disclose his or her legal status to the court.
(2) Prior to acceptance of a plea of guilty to any offense
punishable as a crime under state law, except offenses designated as
infractions under state law, the court shall determine that the
defendant has been advised of the following potential consequences of
conviction for a defendant who is not a citizen of the United States:
Deportation, exclusion from admission to the United States, or denial
of naturalization pursuant to the laws of the United States. A
defendant signing a guilty plea statement containing the advisement
required by this subsection shall be presumed to have received the
required advisement. If, after September 1, 1983, the defendant has
not been advised as required by this section and the defendant shows
that conviction of the offense to which the defendant pleaded guilty
may have the consequences for the defendant of deportation, exclusion
from admission to the United States, or denial of naturalization
pursuant to the laws of the United States, the court, on defendant's
motion, shall vacate the judgment and permit the defendant to withdraw
the plea of guilty and enter a plea of not guilty. Absent a written
acknowledgement by the defendant of the advisement required by this
subsection, the defendant shall be presumed not to have received the
required advisement.
(3) With respect to pleas accepted prior to September 1, 1983, it
is not the intent of the legislature that a defendant's failure to
receive the advisement required by subsection (2) of this section
should require the vacation of judgment and withdrawal of the plea or
constitute grounds for finding a prior conviction invalid.
(4) Prior to acceptance of a plea of guilty to any offense
punishable as a crime under state law, except offenses designated as
infractions under state law, the court shall advise the defendant that,
pursuant to RCW 9.94A.685, the defendant may be subject to early
release from custody for removal from the United States as a
consequence of conviction and that the defendant may be able to contest
a removal order.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4 This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the
state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect
immediately."
ESHB 1547 -
By Senators Hargrove, Carrell, Stevens
ADOPTED 04/21/2011
On page 1, line 1 of the title, after "offenders;" strike the remainder of the title and insert "amending RCW 9.94A.685 and 10.40.200; adding a new section to chapter 9.94A RCW; and declaring an emergency."