Z-757                 _______________________________________________

                                                    HOUSE BILL NO. 757

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              50th Legislature                              1987 Regular Session

By Representatives Fisher, Leonard, Fisch, Pruitt, Barnes and Unsoeld; by request of Secretary of State

Read first time 2/6/87 and referred to Committee on Constitution, Elections & Ethics.

AN ACT Relating to the restoration of civil rights; and adding a new section to chapter 9.96 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 9.96 RCW to read as follows:

          (1) The legislature recognizes that the compelling state need to exclude a person convicted of an infamous crime, as defined by RCW 29.01.080 from the elective franchise as set forth in Article VI, section 3 of the state Constitution, is effective whenever the person is legally imprisoned in a state correctional facility.  The intent of this section is to provide persons convicted of crimes committed prior to July 1, 1984, with the restoration of voting rights equal to those of persons convicted under chapter 9.94A RCW, the sentencing reform act of 1981.

          (2) Any of the following automatically results in the restoration of the right to vote of a person convicted of an infamous crime:

          (a) The granting of parole of that person;

          (b) The completion of the incarceration portion of that person's sentence;

          (c) The granting of a pardon by the governor to that person;

          (d) The issuance of a probationary sentence to that person by any superior court.

          (3) By December 31, 1987, the secretary of state, in cooperation with the indeterminate sentence review board, shall adopt rules to provide that a person who qualifies under subsection (2) of this section after January 1, 1988,  is notified that the right to register and vote has been restored.  The rules shall also establish a procedure for notification to county auditors of those persons convicted of infamous crimes and denied their civil rights.  Upon such notification, the county auditor shall cancel the voter registration record of any such person.