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

HB 2407

Brief Description:  Establishing the authority to create and operate regional jails.

Sponsors:  Representatives Ballasiotes, O'Brien, Lovick, Hurst, Woods, Kagi and Haigh.

Brief Summary of Bill

$Authorizes local governments to create and operate regional jails between two or more local governments.

Hearing Date:  2/1/02

Staff:  Yvonne Walker (786‑7841).

Background:

Any city, town, or county may build and operate a jail as long as that particular jail is located within the territorial boundaries of the county in which the city, town, or county it is located.  A jail includes any holding facility, detention facility, special detention facility, or correctional facility.

Under the Interlocal Cooperation Act, local governments and state agencies are authorized to enter into cooperative contracts for one public entity to provide a service, activity, or undertaking to the other public entity, if all parties to the contract possess the authority to provide the service, activity, or undertaking.  Interlocal contracts for jail services may be made between a county and city located within the boundaries of the county or among other counties.

Summary of Bill:

Local governments are authorized to create and operate regional jails between two or more local governments.  In addition, these regional jails may be operated by representatives from multiple jurisdictions as long as they comply with the Interlocal Cooperation Act.

Interlocal contracts for jail services may continue to be made between a county and city located within the boundaries of a county or among other counties.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on January 28, 2002.

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