SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6215

BYSenators Pullen, Talmadge and Fleming

Revising provisions relating to the state crime laboratory.

Senate Committee on Law & Justice

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 20, 1988; January 25, 1988

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6215 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Pullen, Chairman; McCaslin, Vice Chairman; Hayner, Madsen, Nelson, Newhouse, Niemi, Talmadge.

Senate Staff:Ben Barnes (786-7465)

                  January 26, 1988

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON LAW & JUSTICE, JANUARY 25, 1988

BACKGROUND:

The state crime lab is currently operated by the Washington State Patrol and is funded through the Washington State Patrol general fund.

Concern exists regarding an increasing delay in the provision of crime laboratory services to state prosecutors.  It has been suggested that a bureau and/or council be created to monitor the operation and management of the state crime lab.

SUMMARY:

A crime laboratory bureau is created within the State Patrol to monitor the operation and management of the state crime lab.

A law enforcement crime laboratory council is established consisting of three prosecuting attorneys, three sheriffs or police chiefs, and the Chief of the Washington State Patrol or the Chief's designee. Council members serve for a period of four years and are reimbursed for travel expenses pursuant to RCW 43.03.050.

The duties of the council are three-fold:  (1) to assist the Chief of the Washington State Patrol in monitoring the performance of the state crime labs and their utilization of funds; (2) to report annually to the Governor and the Legislature on the performance of the state crime labs; and (3) to review and analyze budget requests submitted by the crime laboratory director to the Chief of the Washington State Patrol.

The council is required to study and report to the Legislature by December 1, 1990, on the feasibility of combining the crime lab, the toxicology lab, and the medical examiner system into a separate state department of forensic services.

The Chief of the Washington State Patrol is required to appoint a crime laboratory director for a term of six years.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

The Secretary of the Department of Corrections replaces the Secretary of the Department of Social and Health Services as an ex-officio member of the Washington State Advisory Council.  Council members are reimbursed for travel expenses pursuant to RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.

The Crime Laboratory Subcommittee is established under the auspices of the existing Washington State Advisory Council.  The subcommittee consists of three prosecuting attorneys, three sheriffs or police chiefs, and the Chief of the Washington State Patrol or the Chief's designee.

The subcommittee is required to monitor the operation and management of the state crime laboratory system, and is required to solicit input from the judiciary and from attorneys engaged in criminal defense.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      requested January 15, 1988

Senate Committee - Testified: Michael Redman, Washington State Association of Prosecuting Attorneys; George Tellevik, Chief of the Washington State Patrol; Dave McEachran, Whatcom County Prosecutor