HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1072

As Amended by the Senate

BYRepresentatives Rasmussen, Dorn, Brumsickle, Betrozoff, Rayburn, Fuhrman, Peery, Pruitt, Walker, Valle, Spanel, R. Meyers, Prentice, Kremen, Rust, Wineberry, Heavey, Rector, Morris, Patrick, Leonard, Basich, Wang, Winsley, P. King, Bowman, G. Fisher, K. Wilson, Miller, Wolfe, Nealey, Brough, Crane, Walk, Schoon, Todd, Phillips and Anderson

Prohibiting air guns on school premises.

House Committe on Judiciary

Majority Report:  Do pass with amendments.  (19)

      Signed by Representatives Appelwick, Chair; Crane, Vice Chair; Padden, Ranking Republican Member; Belcher, Brough, Dellwo, Hargrove, Inslee, P. King, Locke, R. Meyers, Moyer, H. Myers, Patrick, Schmidt, Scott, Tate, Van Luven and Wineberry.

House Staff:Bill Perry (786-7123)

AS PASSED HOUSE MARCH 2, 1989

BACKGROUND:

Current law makes it a gross misdemeanor for a student under the age of 21 to carry certain weapons onto public or private school premises.  The prohibited weapons include firearms, switch-blade knives, brass knuckles, nun-chu-ka sticks, and throwing stars.

Exceptions to the prohibition are allowed for private military academy students, martial arts students, firearm safety class students and students engaged in military activities sponsored by the government.

SUMMARY:

Air guns are added to the list of weapons that students may not take onto school premises.

EFFECT OF SENATE AMENDMENTS:  A statement is added that illegal possession of a weapon is a ground for expulsion from school.  An exception from the prohibitions on weapons is provided for firearm or airgun competition.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Tim Sherry, Eatonville School District; Greg Rawlings, Bethel School District.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    Air guns are not currently prohibited from school grounds and some students have used these weapons to intimidate other students.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.

VOTE ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      Yeas 93; Nays 2; Excused 3

Voting Nay: Representatives Baugher and R. Meyers

Excused:    Representatives Bristow, Schoon and Todd.