SENATE BILL REPORT

SHB 738

BYHouse Committee on State Government (originally sponsored by Representatives H. Sommers, Hankins, Peery, Miller, B. Williams, Braddock, Bristow, Jesernig and Winsley)

Transferring functions of corrections standards board to other state agencies.

House Committe on State Government

Senate Committee on Human Services & Corrections

Senate Hearing Date(s):March 30, 1987

Majority Report:     Do pass as amended.

     Signed by Senators Wojahn, Chairman; Stratton, Vice Chairman; Anderson, Deccio, Johnson, Kiskaddon, Kreidler.

Senate Staff:Carol Pedigo (786-7471)

                March 31, 1987

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES & CORRECTIONS, MARCH 30, 1987

BACKGROUND:

The Corrections Standards Board was established in 1981 as a board within the Washington State Jail Commission.  In 1983 the Commission ceased to exist and the Board assumed the functions of the Commission.

The Board is composed of nine voting members appointed by the Governor and five nonvoting members representing the Legislature and the Department of Corrections (DOC).

The Board is responsible for:  (1) setting standards and distributing state funds for jail construction; (2) setting standards for prison operation; (3) monitoring compliance with prison standards; (4) setting standards for jail operation; (5) enforcing jail standards; and (6) gathering data on sentenced felons in jails and jail populations generally.

The Board is currently assigned 10 FTEs.

SUMMARY:

The Corrections Standards Board terminates on July 1, 1987.  The following functions of the Board are transferred or eliminated:

     1.The juvenile confinement compliance function is transferred to the Department of Social and Health Services;

     2.The jail population data collection function is transferred to the Office of Financial Management;

     3.The local jail construction funding program shall be completed by the Office of Financial Management;

     4.State mandated operating standards for local jails are eliminated, and local governments are directly to individually or collectively adopt operating standards;

     5.The Department of Corrections shall adopt, no later than July 1, 1987, standards for operating its prison facilities.

Fiscal Note:    available

Effective Date:The bill contains an emergency clause.  Section 15 takes effect immediately; sections 1 through 11 and sections 16, 17, 21 and 22 take effect July 1, 1987.

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED SENATE AMENDMENT:

The current statutory language abolishing the Corrections Standards Board as of July 1, 1987 is deleted from statute.  All other portions of the act, including the expiration date of the Board, are to take effect July 1, 1989.

Senate Committee - Testified:   No one