SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5073

BYSenators Pullen and Talmadge

Establishing a central repository for collection and analysis of information on crimes involving bigotry and bias.

Senate Committee on Law & Justice

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 12, 1989; February 8, 1989

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5073 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

      Signed by Senators Pullen, Chairman; McCaslin, Vice Chairman; Madsen, Nelson, Niemi, Rinehart, Talmadge.

Senate Staff:Jon Carlson (786-7459)

                  February 8, 1989

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

Senate Hearing Date(s):March 3, 1989

Majority Report:  That Second Substitute Senate Bill No. 5073 be substituted therefor, and the second substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators McDonald, Chairman; Craswell, Vice Chairman; Bailey, Bluechel, Cantu, Gaspard, Hayner, Lee, Matson, Owen, Saling, Talmadge, Warnke, Williams, Wojahn.

Senate Staff:Randy Hodgins (786-7438)

                  March 6, 1989

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS, MARCH 3, 1989

BACKGROUND:

At present, most law enforcement agencies have not established reporting systems that produce an accurate and comprehensive measurement of the extent of criminal activity that is clearly based on racial or religious motivations.  To date, both local and national responses to these bias crimes have been hindered by the lack of data concerning the number, location, and types of bias crimes.

It is suggested that a bias crime reporting system would assist law enforcement in development preventive strategies, and provide legislators and other governing bodies with information for the development and implementation of policy to reduce crimes motivated all or in part by race, ethnicity, and religion.  In addition, it may lead to greater public awareness of the problems of bigotry and prejudice.

SUMMARY:

The Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs is required to establish and maintain a central repository for the collection and classification of information regarding crimes that are motivated by bigotry and bias.  A procedure to monitor, record, and classify bias crimes must be developed by the association, and submitted to the Senate Law and Justice and House of Representatives Judiciary Committees for approval.

Law enforcement agencies are required to report all bias crimes monthly to the association.  The association must summarize the information and file an annual report with the Governor and with the Senate Law and Justice and House of Representatives Judiciary Committees.

Information collected on bias crimes is available for use by any local enforcement agency, unit of local government, or state agency.  Otherwise, the bias crime reporting is subject to all confidentiality requirements imposed by law.

The Criminal Justice Training Commission is required to provide training for law enforcement officers in identifying, responding to, and reporting all bias crimes.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

The procedure developed by the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs to monitor, record, and classify bias crimes may be established within the association's incident-based reporting program.  Law enforcement agency participation in the incident-based reporting program, with regard to the specific data requirements associated with bias crimes, is deemed to meet agency reporting requirements.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SECOND SUBSTITUTE:

The measure is contingent upon funding in the state budget.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      available

Senate Committee - Testified: LAW & JUSTICE:  Robert Stern, Puget Sound Task Force on Human Rights; Joe Collins, Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs; Deni Yamachuchi, Center for Democratic Renewal

Senate Committee - Testified: WAYS & MEANS: No one