FINAL BILL REPORT

                 SHB 1069

                         C 142 L 99

                     Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Authorizing the forensic investigations council to make expenditures to assist in investigations of multiple deaths.

Sponsors:  By House Committee on Local Government (Originally sponsored by Representatives Scott, Mulliken and O'Brien).

House Committee on Local Government

House Committee on Appropriations

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

Background:

The Washington State Forensic Investigations Council (WSFIC) performs several functions related to death investigations as part of the state's criminal justice system.  The WSFIC and the University of Washington jointly oversee the state toxicology laboratory and the state forensic pathology fellowship program.  The WSFIC also approves the state crime laboratory and toxicology laboratory budgets.  Further, the WSFIC is required to study and recommend cost-efficient improvements to the state's death investigations system.

The Death Investigations Account (DIA) pays for various activities associated with death investigations and is funded from part of the fees received by the Department of Health for copies of vital records.  The state treasurer makes disbursements from the DIA to the WSFIC and to various entities, including:

$the state toxicology laboratory;

$the Criminal Justice Training Commission for training county coroners;

$the Washington State Patrol for partial funding of the state dental identification system;

$the University of Washington for the state forensic pathology fellowship program;

$counties for the cost of autopsies; and

$medical examiners and their staff.

Summary:

The WSFIC is authorized to spend up to $250,000 per biennium from the DIA appropriation to assist local jurisdictions investigate multiple deaths involving unanticipated, extraordinary and catastrophic events, or involving multiple jurisdictions.  The WSFIC is required to adopt rules for expending funds from the DIA for this purpose.

Votes on Final Passage:

House960

Senate490

Effective:July 25, 1999