Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research	BILL ANALYSIS
Criminal Justice & Corrections Committee

HB 2379

Brief Description:  Making it a crime to leave a child with a sex offender.

Sponsors:  Representatives Dickerson, O'Brien, Tokuda, Veloria, Darneille, Chase, Kirby and Lovick.

Brief Summary of Bill

$Prohibits a person responsible for the care of a child from leaving the child with certain registered sex offenders.

Hearing Date:  1/30/02

Staff:  Jim Morishima (786‑7191).

Background:

A parent of a child, a person entrusted with the physical custody of a child or dependent person, or a person employed to provide a child or dependent person the basic necessities of life, is guilty of criminal mistreatment in the first degree if he or she recklessly causes great bodily harm to a child by withholding the basic necessities of life.  Criminal mistreatment in the first degree is a class B felony with a seriousness level of V.

Such a person is guilty of criminal mistreatment in the second degree if he or she recklessly creates an imminent and substantial risk of death or great bodily harm or causes substantial bodily harm by withholding the basic necessities of life.  Criminal mistreatment in the second degree is a class C felony with a seriousness level of III.

Such a person is guilty of criminal mistreatment in the third degree if he or she, with criminal negligence, creates an imminent and substantial risk of substantial bodily harm by withholding the basic necessities of life or causes substantial bodily harm to a child or dependent person by withholding the basic necessities of life.  Criminal mistreatment in the third degree is a gross misdemeanor.

Summary of Bill:

A parent of a child, a person entrusted with the physical custody of a child, or a person employed to provide the child the basic necessities of life is guilty of criminal mistreatment in the fourth degree if he or she leaves a child with another person who is not a parent, guardian, or lawful custodian of the child knowing that the person is a registered sex offender for a sex offense against a child.  Criminal mistreatment in the fourth degree is a misdemeanor.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on January 25, 2002.

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