FINAL BILL REPORT

SHB 1339

                                   C 62 L 88

BYHouse Committee on Judiciary (originally sponsored by Representatives H. Sommers, Armstrong, Baugher, Padden, Silver, Lewis, Sanders, Kremen, Braddock, Heavey, Zellinsky, Betrozoff, Peery, Bristow, Crane, Holm and K. Wilson) 

Increasing penalties for the illegal transfer of food stamps.

House Committe on Judiciary

Senate Committee on Law & Justice

SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

BACKGROUND:

The current law in Washington is that any person who resells food stamps or food purchased with food stamps, and any person who knowingly purchases such resold stamps or food, is guilty of a crime. The crime is a gross misdemeanor if the face value of the transferred stamps or food is $100 or more.  The maximum punishment for a gross misdemeanor is imprisonment for one year and a fine of $5,000.

The crime is a misdemeanor if the face value of the transferred stamps or food is less than $100.  The maximum punishment for a misdemeanor is imprisonment for 90 days and a fine of $1,000.

SUMMARY:

A person who sells legally obtained food stamps, or food purchased with legally obtained food stamps, is guilty of a gross misdemeanor if the face value of the food stamps or food is $100 or more. If the face value of the food stamps or food is less than $100 the crime is classified as a misdemeanor.

The punishment is greater for persons who traffic in food stamps.  Those who purchase, or who otherwise acquire and sell, food stamps that were issued to another person are guilty of a class C felony if the face value of the transferred stamps is $100 or more.  The maximum punishment for a class C felony is imprisonment for five years and a fine of $10,000.  For a first time offender the sentencing guidelines provide for a presumptive sentence of zero to 60 days.  A person who presents food stamps for redemption knowing they have been received, transferred, or used in any manner in violation of federal law is also guilty of a class C felony.

If the face value of the food stamps is less than $100 the crime of purchasing or trafficking in food stamps issued to another person is a gross misdemeanor.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      House 97   0

      Senate    47     0

EFFECTIVE:June 9, 1988