SENATE BILL REPORT

                            SB 6190

                    AS OF JANUARY 25, 1994

Brief Description:  Restricting possession of explosives on school grounds and at school activities.

SPONSORS: Senators McAuliffe, Erwin, M. Rasmussen, Quigley and Winsley

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Staff:  Leslie Goldstein (786‑7424)

Hearing Dates: January 26, 1994

BACKGROUND:

Concern for the safety of students and employees is an issue of great public concern.  Under current law, it is not a gross misdemeanor to bring explosives or other incendiary devices onto school grounds.  Gross misdemeanors are punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for up to one year, or a fine of up to $5,000, or by both such imprisonment and fine.

SUMMARY:

The list of dangerous items prohibited on school grounds is expanded to include explosives, small arms ammunition, small arms ammunition primer, black powder, pyrotechnics, or incendiary devices.  It is a gross misdemeanor to have these items on public or private school premises, school-provided transportation, or areas of facilities while those areas are being used exclusively by public or private schools. 

This prohibition does not apply to any person hired by a school district to use explosives who holds a valid user's license.

Students under the age of 18 cannot have firearms in a vehicle on school premises.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  none requested