SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6676

BYSenators Patrick, Thorsness, Nelson, Conner, McCaslin, Vognild, Smith, Warnke and Lee

Increasing the pay for jail labor performed by prisoners with outstanding fines and costs.

Senate Committee on Law & Justice

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 30, 1990; January 31, 1990

Majority Report:     Do pass.

     Signed by Senators Nelson, Chairman; McCaslin, Vice Chairman; Hayner, Madsen, Niemi, Patrick, Rinehart, Talmadge, Thorsness.

Senate Staff:Ben Barnes (786-7465)

                February 1, 1990

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON LAW & JUSTICE, JANUARY 31, 1990

BACKGROUND:

Under current law, defendants who fail to pay the fine and costs adjudged against them are imprisoned in the county jail until such fine and costs are paid.  The amount of the fine and costs is reduced by $25 for each day the defendant remains in jail and $35 for each day the defendant performs labor while imprisoned.

It is recommended that the credit allocated towards fines and costs be increased in order to ease the overcrowding of county jails.

SUMMARY:

The credit for each day the defendant remains in jail is increased from $25 to $50.  The daily credit each defendant receives for labor performed while imprisoned is increased from $35 to $60.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:   none

Fiscal Note:    requested January 24, 1990

Senate Committee - Testified:   Ken Johnson, Washington State Law Enforcement Assoc. and Longview Police Dept. (pro); Mike Matson, WSLEA (pro); Kurt Sharar, Washington State Association of Counties (pro)