SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 6741

              As Passed Senate, February 11, 2000

Title:  An act relating to the organized crime advisory board.

Brief Description:  Adding the secretary of corrections to the organized crime advisory board.

Sponsors:  Senators Horn, Fairley, Winsley and Oke; by request of Washington State Patrol.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Judiciary:  2/3/2000, 2/4/2000 [DP].

Passed Senate, 2/11/2000, 44-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Heavey, Chair; Kline, Vice Chair; Costa, Goings, Haugen, Long and Thibaudeau.

Staff:  Dick Armstrong (786-7460)

Background:  The Department of Corrections houses persons found guilty of committing felony crimes.  Some of the people that have been convicted of criminal offenses continue their illegal behavior while in prison by directing other criminals to perform illegal acts.  The Department of Corrections attempts to prevent these activities through intelligence gathering that monitors the communications of all personnel and collects information on their activities.  It is believed that this intelligence should be shared with other criminal justice agencies to enhance crime prevention.  It has been suggested that a vital link in developing this exchange would be to include the secretary of the Department of Corrections on the Organized Crime Advisory Board in order to establish better communications throughout the criminal justice community.

Summary of Bill:  The secretary of the Department of Corrections is added as another member to the Organized Crime Advisory Board of the state of Washington.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  It would be a good idea to add the Secretary of the Department of Corrections to the advisory board.  Such an addition will assist the board with coordination of criminal justice prevention activities and help deter organized crime in the state.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Senator Horn, prime sponsor; Annette Sandberg, Chief, Washington State Patrol; Joe Lehman, Secretary, Department of Corrections.