HOUSE BILL REPORT

ESB 6114

BYSenator McDonald

Relating to corrections.

BACKGROUND:

The state of Washington operates eight major correctional institutions for the incarceration of adult offenders.  It has been suggested by some that unique impacts may be felt by some local communities in which these institutions are located as a result of families of inmates relocating to be near incarcerated offenders.  The only city in close proximity to a prison that has a significant number of families of prisoners is Walla Walla.  As many as 120 to 150 families reside in proximity to the penitentiary at Walla Walla, according to a 1988 study conducted by the Washington State Institute for Public Policy.

SUMMARY:

The Legislature finds that the state has an obligation to mitigate the inordinate impacts on local communities from the relocation of inmate families, through the payment of mitigation funds to those local governments.

The Department of Corrections is required to provide mitigation funds to counties where state correctional institutions are located based on the number of families living in close proximity to the institution.  An amount of $2,500 per inmate family would be provided to each eligible county on an annual basis.

Counties may share the mitigation funds with cities or towns in which the correctional institution is located.  The Office of Financial Management is required to develop specified application and payment procedures by July 1, 1991.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      none requested

Effective Date:July 1, 1991