SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5179

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

Judiciary, January 29, 2001

Title:  An act relating to adding a victim notification system to the state jail booking and reporting system.

Brief Description:  Providing for victim notification.

Sponsors:  Senators Costa, Roach, Constantine, McCaslin, Fairley, Sheahan, Hargrove, Rasmussen, Kline, Gardner, Eide, Haugen, Franklin, Johnson, McAuliffe and Kohl‑Welles.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Judiciary: 1/15/01, 1/29/01 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5179 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

Signed by Senators Kline, Chair; Constantine, Vice Chair; Costa, Hargrove, Johnson, Kastama, Long, McCaslin, Roach, Thibaudeau and Zarelli.

Staff:  Lilah Amos (786‑7421)

Background:  Legislation passed during the 2000 legislative session required the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC) to develop and operate an electronic statewide central booking and reporting system by December 31, 2001.  The system will be capable of communicating electronically with every city and county jail and all state criminal justice agencies in Washington.  All jurisdictions with electronic jail booking systems must electronically forward specified information about jail residents, including pending charges, descriptive and personal information, address, and mugshot, to WASPC.  The cost of building this system is to be federally funded.

WASPC has learned that during the building and installation of the electronic central booking and reporting system, a system to notify victims of the release or transfer of jail residents can also be installed at little or no additional cost.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  The Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs must include a victim notification system in its statewide jail booking and reporting system.  The system notifies victims, upon request, of the release or transfer of an incarcerated person from a county or city jail or detention facility.  All jurisdictions reporting to this system must report the date and time of release or transfer of each incarcerated person.

Substitute Bill Compared Original Bill:  The substitute bill clarifies that the information which must be transferred to victims is only that information which is received by the statewide booking system.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on January 12, 2001.

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

Testimony For:  The Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs has obtained federal funding and is building the electronic jail booking and reporting system.  During the development, it became apparent that an electronic victim notification system can be included with no extra development or installation cost.  Integration of these two functions, rather than building two separate systems, will save $500,000.  Funds will be needed to operate the victim notification system, and sources are still being investigated.  If funding is not found, the system could be turned off.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Tim Schellberg, Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs.