H-2275

AN ACT Relating to transient sex offenders; reenacting and amending RCW 9A.44.130; and providing an effective date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1. RCW 9A.44.130 and 1998 c 220 s 1 and 1998 c 139 s 1 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:

(1) Any adult or juvenile residing, or who is a student, is employed, or carries on a vocation in this state who has been found to have committed or has been convicted of any sex offense or kidnapping offense, or who has been found not guilty by reason of insanity under chapter 10.77 RCW of committing any sex offense or kidnapping offense, shall register with the county sheriff for the county of the person's residence, or if the person is not a resident of Washington, the county of the person's school, or place of employment or vocation. A person otherwise required to register under this section shall not be relieved of the duty to register by declaring transient status. Such persons must declare a county of residence and register with the county sheriff. Where a person required to register under this section is in custody of the state department of corrections, the state department of social and health services, a local division of youth services, or a local jail or juvenile detention facility as a result of a sex offense or kidnapping offense, the person shall also register at the time of release from custody with an official designated by the agency that has jurisdiction over the person. In addition, any such adult or juvenile who is admitted to a public or private institution of higher education shall, within ten days of enrolling or by the first business day after arriving at the institution, whichever is earlier, notify the sheriff for the county of the person's residence of the person's intent to attend the institution. Persons required to register under this section who are enrolled in a public or private institution of higher education on June 11, 1998, must notify the county sheriff immediately. The sheriff shall notify the institution's department of public safety and shall provide that department with the same information provided to a county sheriff under subsections (3) and (4) of this section.

(2) This section may not be construed to confer any powers pursuant to RCW 4.24.500 upon the public safety department of any public or private institution of higher education.

(3) The person shall provide the following information when registering: (a) Name; (b) address; (c) date and place of birth; (d) place of employment; (e) crime for which convicted; (f) date and place of conviction; (g) aliases used; (h) social security number; (i) photograph; and (j) fingerprints.

(4) An offender who is unable to provide an address as required under subsections (1) and (3) of this section and registers as transient shall be required to:

(a) Report in person to the county sheriff's office monthly and provide the sheriff's office with information as to where he or she has been staying and where he or she plans to stay if he or she has been classified as a risk level I sex offender; and

(b) Report in person to the county sheriff's office weekly and provide the sheriff's office with information as to where he or she has been staying and where he or she plans to stay if he or she has been classified as a risk level II or III sex offender.

An offender registering as transient is indicating he or she will be residing in the county of registration but has no specific location. Offenders classified as risk level II or III are subject to community notification with the broadest dissemination possible as required in RCW 4.24.550.

For purposes of reporting under this subsection (4), county sheriffs may enter into agreements with other law enforcement agencies, including jails, to accept the reports required under this subsection (4).

(5)(a) Offenders shall register with the county sheriff within the following deadlines. For purposes of this section the term "conviction" refers to adult convictions and juvenile adjudications for sex offenses or kidnapping offenses:

(i) OFFENDERS IN CUSTODY. (A) Sex offenders who committed a sex offense on, before, or after February 28, 1990, and who, on or after July 28, 1991, are in custody, as a result of that offense, of the state department of corrections, the state department of social and health services, a local division of youth services, or a local jail or juvenile detention facility, and (B) kidnapping offenders who on or after July 27, 1997, are in custody of the state department of corrections, the state department of social and health services, a local division of youth services, or a local jail or juvenile detention facility, must register at the time of release from custody with an official designated by the agency that has jurisdiction over the offender. The agency shall within three days forward the registration information to the county sheriff for the county of the offender's anticipated residence. The offender must also register within twenty-four hours from the time of release with the county sheriff for the county of the person's residence, or if the person is not a resident of Washington, the county of the person's school, or place of employment or vocation. The agency that has jurisdiction over the offender shall provide notice to the offender of the duty to register. Failure to register at the time of release and within twenty-four hours of release constitutes a violation of this section and is punishable as provided in subsection ((~~(9)~~)) (10) of this section.

When the agency with jurisdiction intends to release an offender with a duty to register under this section, and the agency has knowledge that the offender is eligible for developmental disability services from the department of social and health services, the agency shall notify the division of developmental disabilities of the release. Notice shall occur not more than thirty days before the offender is to be released. The agency and the division shall assist the offender in meeting the initial registration requirement under this section. Failure to provide such assistance shall not constitute a defense for any violation of this section.

(ii) OFFENDERS NOT IN CUSTODY BUT UNDER STATE OR LOCAL JURISDICTION. Sex offenders who, on July 28, 1991, are not in custody but are under the jurisdiction of the indeterminate sentence review board or under the department of correction's active supervision, as defined by the department of corrections, the state department of social and health services, or a local division of youth services, for sex offenses committed before, on, or after February 28, 1990, must register within ten days of July 28, 1991. Kidnapping offenders who, on July 27, 1997, are not in custody but are under the jurisdiction of the indeterminate sentence review board or under the department of correction's active supervision, as defined by the department of corrections, the state department of social and health services, or a local division of youth services, for kidnapping offenses committed before, on, or after July 27, 1997, must register within ten days of July 27, 1997. A change in supervision status of a sex offender who was required to register under this subsection ((~~(4)~~)) (5)(a)(ii) as of July 28, 1991, or a kidnapping offender required to register as of July 27, 1997, shall not relieve the offender of the duty to register or to reregister following a change in residence. The obligation to register shall only cease pursuant to RCW 9A.44.140.

(iii) OFFENDERS UNDER FEDERAL JURISDICTION. Sex offenders who, on or after July 23, 1995, and kidnapping offenders who, on or after July 27, 1997, as a result of that offense are in the custody of the United States bureau of prisons or other federal or military correctional agency for sex offenses committed before, on, or after February 28, 1990, or kidnapping offenses committed on, before, or after July 27, 1997, must register within twenty-four hours from the time of release with the county sheriff for the county of the person's residence, or if the person is not a resident of Washington, the county of the person's school, or place of employment or vocation. Sex offenders who, on July 23, 1995, are not in custody but are under the jurisdiction of the United States bureau of prisons, United States courts, United States parole commission, or military parole board for sex offenses committed before, on, or after February 28, 1990, must register within ten days of July 23, 1995. Kidnapping offenders who, on July 27, 1997, are not in custody but are under the jurisdiction of the United States bureau of prisons, United States courts, United States parole commission, or military parole board for kidnapping offenses committed before, on, or after July 27, 1997, must register within ten days of July 27, 1997. A change in supervision status of a sex offender who was required to register under this subsection ((~~(4)~~)) (5)(a)(iii) as of July 23, 1995, or a kidnapping offender required to register as of July 27, 1997 shall not relieve the offender of the duty to register or to reregister following a change in residence, or if the person is not a resident of Washington, the county of the person's school, or place of employment or vocation. The obligation to register shall only cease pursuant to RCW 9A.44.140.

(iv) OFFENDERS WHO ARE CONVICTED BUT NOT CONFINED. Sex offenders who are convicted of a sex offense on or after July 28, 1991, for a sex offense that was committed on or after February 28, 1990, and kidnapping offenders who are convicted on or after July 27, 1997, for a kidnapping offense that was committed on or after July 27, 1997, but who are not sentenced to serve a term of confinement immediately upon sentencing, shall report to the county sheriff to register immediately upon completion of being sentenced.

(v) OFFENDERS WHO ARE NEW RESIDENTS OR RETURNING WASHINGTON RESIDENTS. Sex offenders and kidnapping offenders who move to Washington state from another state or a foreign country that are not under the jurisdiction of the state department of corrections, the indeterminate sentence review board, or the state department of social and health services at the time of moving to Washington, must register within thirty days of establishing residence or reestablishing residence if the person is a former Washington resident. The duty to register under this subsection applies to sex offenders convicted under the laws of another state or a foreign country, federal or military statutes, or Washington state for offenses committed on or after February 28, 1990, and to kidnapping offenders convicted under the laws of another state or a foreign country, federal or military statutes, or Washington state for offenses committed on or after July 27, 1997. Sex offenders and kidnapping offenders from other states or a foreign country who, when they move to Washington, are under the jurisdiction of the department of corrections, the indeterminate sentence review board, or the department of social and health services must register within twenty-four hours of moving to Washington. The agency that has jurisdiction over the offender shall notify the offender of the registration requirements before the offender moves to Washington.

(vi) OFFENDERS FOUND NOT GUILTY BY REASON OF INSANITY. Any adult or juvenile who has been found not guilty by reason of insanity under chapter 10.77 RCW of (A) committing a sex offense on, before, or after February 28, 1990, and who, on or after July 23, 1995, is in custody, as a result of that finding, of the state department of social and health services, or (B) committing a kidnapping offense on, before, or after July 27, 1997, and who on or after July 27, 1997, is in custody, as a result of that finding, of the state department of social and health services, must register within twenty-four hours from the time of release with the county sheriff for the county of the person's residence. The state department of social and health services shall provide notice to the adult or juvenile in its custody of the duty to register. Any adult or juvenile who has been found not guilty by reason of insanity of committing a sex offense on, before, or after February 28, 1990, but who was released before July 23, 1995, or any adult or juvenile who has been found not guilty by reason of insanity of committing a kidnapping offense but who was released before July 27, 1997, shall be required to register within twenty-four hours of receiving notice of this registration requirement. The state department of social and health services shall make reasonable attempts within available resources to notify sex offenders who were released before July 23, 1995, and kidnapping offenders who were released before July 27, 1997. Failure to register within twenty-four hours of release, or of receiving notice, constitutes a violation of this section and is punishable as provided in subsection ((~~(9)~~)) (10) of this section.

(b) Failure to register within the time required under this section constitutes a per se violation of this section and is punishable as provided in subsection ((~~(9)~~)) (10) of this section. The county sheriff shall not be required to determine whether the person is living within the county.

(c) An arrest on charges of failure to register, service of an information, or a complaint for a violation of this section, or arraignment on charges for a violation of this section, constitutes actual notice of the duty to register. Any person charged with the crime of failure to register under this section who asserts as a defense the lack of notice of the duty to register shall register immediately following actual notice of the duty through arrest, service, or arraignment. Failure to register as required under this subsection ((~~(4)~~)) (5)(c) constitutes grounds for filing another charge of failing to register. Registering following arrest, service, or arraignment on charges shall not relieve the offender from criminal liability for failure to register prior to the filing of the original charge.

(d) The deadlines for the duty to register under this section do not relieve any sex offender of the duty to register under this section as it existed prior to July 28, 1991.

((~~(5)~~)) (6)(a) If any person required to register pursuant to this section changes his or her residence address within the same county, the person must send written notice of the change of address to the county sheriff within seventy-two hours of moving. If any person required to register pursuant to this section moves to a new county, the person must send written notice of the change of address at least fourteen days before moving to the county sheriff in the new county of residence and must register with that county sheriff within twenty-four hours of moving. The person must also send written notice within ten days of the change of address in the new county to the county sheriff with whom the person last registered. The county sheriff with whom the person last registered shall promptly forward the information concerning the change of address to the county sheriff for the county of the person's new residence. If any person required to register pursuant to this section moves out of Washington state, the person must also send written notice within ten days of moving to the new state or a foreign country to the county sheriff with whom the person last registered in Washington state. Upon receipt of notice of change of address to a new state, the county sheriff shall promptly forward the information regarding the change of address to the agency designated by the new state as the state's offender registration agency.

(b) It is an affirmative defense to a charge that the person failed to send a notice at least fourteen days in advance of moving as required under (a) of this subsection that the person did not know the location of his or her new residence at least fourteen days before moving. The defendant must establish the defense by a preponderance of the evidence and, to prevail on the defense, must also prove by a preponderance that the defendant sent the required notice within twenty-four hours of determining the new address.

((~~(6)~~)) (7) A sex offender subject to registration requirements under this section who applies to change his or her name under RCW 4.24.130 or any other law shall submit a copy of the application to the county sheriff of the county of the person's residence and to the state patrol not fewer than five days before the entry of an order granting the name change. No sex offender under the requirement to register under this section at the time of application shall be granted an order changing his or her name if the court finds that doing so will interfere with legitimate law enforcement interests, except that no order shall be denied when the name change is requested for religious or legitimate cultural reasons or in recognition of marriage or dissolution of marriage. A sex offender under the requirement to register under this section who receives an order changing his or her name shall submit a copy of the order to the county sheriff of the county of the person's residence and to the state patrol within five days of the entry of the order.

((~~(7)~~)) (8) The county sheriff shall obtain a photograph of the individual and shall obtain a copy of the individual's fingerprints.

((~~(8)~~)) (9) For the purpose of RCW 9A.44.130, 10.01.200, 43.43.540, 70.48.470, and 72.09.330:

(a) "Sex offense" means any offense defined as a sex offense by RCW 9.94A.030 and any violation of RCW 9.68A.040 (sexual exploitation of a minor), 9.68A.050 (dealing in depictions of minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct), 9.68A.060 (sending, bringing into state depictions of minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct), 9.68A.090 (communication with minor for immoral purposes), 9.68A.100 (patronizing juvenile prostitute), or 9A.44.096 (sexual misconduct with a minor in the second degree), as well as any gross misdemeanor that is, under chapter 9A.28 RCW, a criminal attempt, criminal solicitation, or criminal conspiracy to commit an offense that is classified as a sex offense under RCW 9.94A.030.

(b) "Kidnapping offense" means the crimes of kidnapping in the first degree, kidnapping in the second degree, and unlawful imprisonment as defined in chapter 9A.40 RCW, where the victim is a minor and the offender is not the minor's parent.

(c) "Employed" or "carries on a vocation" means employment that is full-time or part-time for a period of time exceeding fourteen days, or for an aggregate period of time exceeding thirty days during any calendar year. A person is employed or carries on a vocation whether the person's employment is financially compensated, volunteered, or for the purpose of government or educational benefit.

(d) "Student" means a person who is enrolled, on a full-time or part-time basis, in any public or private educational institution. An educational institution includes any secondary school, trade or professional institution, or institution of higher education.

((~~(9)~~)) (10) A person who knowingly fails to register with the county sheriff or notify the county sheriff, or who changes his or her name without notifying the county sheriff and the state patrol, as required by this section is guilty of a class C felony if the crime for which the individual was convicted was a felony or a federal or out-of-state conviction for an offense that under the laws of this state would be a felony. If the crime was other than a felony or a federal or out-of-state conviction for an offense that under the laws of this state would be other than a felony, violation of this section is a gross misdemeanor.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. This act takes effect August 1, 1999.