SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 6486

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

        Human Services & Corrections, February 1, 2000

Title:  An act relating to contempt of court penalties in juvenile proceedings.

Brief Description:  Changing contempt sanctions in juvenile court proceedings.

Sponsors:  Senators Costa, Hargrove, Long, Patterson and Sheahan.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Human Services & Corrections:  2/1/2000 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES & CORRECTIONS

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6486 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

  Signed by Senators Hargrove, Chair; Costa, Vice Chair; Franklin, Kohl-Welles, Long, Patterson, Sheahan, Stevens and Zarelli.

Staff:  Jennifer Strus (786-7484)

Background:  During the 1999 legislative interim, some of the persons who attended the Adolescent Work Group sponsored by the Department of Social and Health Services thought that providing courts with additional contempt sanctions in CHINS and at-risk youth petition processes would be helpful.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  The court may impose, for contempt of court, in addition to a fine or confinement, community restitution or any combination of these three sanctions.  Community restitution or a combination of sanctions may only be imposed if the child cannot be confined within three days of the order being entered because the juvenile detention facility is at full capacity.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The term community service is changed to community restitution.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  Courts have some different options so that confinement is a graduated sanction.  The substitute is a step in the right direction.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Paul Barry, Children=s Alliance (pro).