HOUSE BILL REPORT

SHB 3035

BYRepresentatives Inslee, Baugher, Rayburn, Rector, Haugen, Ebersole and Rasmussen

Funding the construction and expansion of jail facilities in Yakima County.

House Committe on Appropriations

BACKGROUND:

Recent increases in criminal behavior, mostly related to the use of illegal drugs, have resulted in increased numbers of persons sentenced to serve time in the Yakima County jail.  The rated capacity of the Yakima County jail is 301 inmates.  Recent daily population counts have exceeded 420, with many potential sentences postponed or abandoned due to the lack of capacity to incarcerate.

SUMMARY:

One million eight hundred thousand dollars is appropriated to the Department of Community Development to provide a grant to Yakima County to design and construct a facility.  Yakima County owns the land and building where the facility will be located; the facility would contain space for 200 medium and minimum secure beds.

It is clarified that Yakima County must demonstrate to the Department of Community Development that it can complete construction or expansion.

Appropriation:    $1,800,000 from the state building and construction account to the Department of Community Development.

Fiscal Note:      none requested