HOUSE BILL REPORT
SSB 6393
As Reported by House Committee On:
Criminal Justice & Corrections
Title: An act relating to interlocal agreements for jail services.
Brief Description: Expanding authority for interlocal agreements for jail services.
Sponsors: Senate Committee on Judiciary (originally sponsored by Senators Kline, Deccio, Haugen, Honeyford, Eide, Kastama and Horn).
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Criminal Justice & Corrections: 2/27/02 [DPA].
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Brief Summary of Substitute Bill (As Amended by House Committee) |
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$Expands the provision that limits county contracts for jail services between cities located within its county borders and other counties. |
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$Requires contracting entities to provide contact between defendants and their appointed defense counsel.
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE & CORRECTIONS
Majority Report: Do pass as amended. Signed by 7 members: Representatives O'Brien, Chair; Lovick, Vice Chair; Ballasiotes, Ranking Minority Member; Ahern, Kagi, Kirby and Morell.
Staff: Yvonne Walker (786‑7841).
Background:
Counties may contract for jail services with a city located within the boundaries of the county or with other counties. However, a county or a city cannot contract for jail services with another city that is located outside of its county boundaries. Jail services include allowing a prosecuting city or county to confine a person convicted of an offense, punishable by imprisonment in a jail, in a county or city were jail services are contracted.
Summary of Amended Bill:
The provision that limits contracts for jail services between a county and cities located within its county borders is expanded.
Counties and cities may contract for jail services in any city or county. In addition, jail services are expanded whereby a prosecuting city or county may incarcerate a person (charged or convicted with an offense) in any county or city jail where services are contracted.
Furthermore, any county or city contracting for jail services in another jurisdiction must provide telephone, video-conferencing, or in-person contact between its pre-convicted defendant and his or her public defense counsel.
Amended Bill Compared to Substitute Bill:
Eliminates the specific provisions that obligates contracting jurisdictions to pay for mileage costs, transportation costs, and video-conference facilities for defendants and their counsels.
Instead, a general provision is added that requires contracting jurisdictions, confining a person pre-conviction in another county, to provide telephone, video-conferencing, or in-person contact between the defendant and his or her public defense counsel.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not Requested.
Effective Date of Amended Bill: The bill takes effect on September 1, 2002.
Testimony For: This bill has two purposes. It authorizes interlocal agreements between cities and counties to allow cities to contract with other jurisdictions outside of its own county. The bill also ensures that pre-convicted offenders are not deprived of their constitutional right to counsel. It guarantees that any offender, that is housed in another county prior to conviction, is able to meet with his or her attorney.
This is a cost effective way allow counties to jail prisoners.
Testimony Against: None.
Testified: Senator Kline, prime sponsor; Mike Doubleday, city of Bellevue; and Doug Levy, city of Federal Way.