SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 5698
As Reported By Senate Committee On:
Judiciary, February 20, 2001
Title: An act relating to submission of unidentified persons information.
Brief Description: Providing a time limit for the transmittal of unidentified persons information.
Sponsors: Senators Patterson, Roach and Winsley; by request of Washington State Patrol.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Judiciary: 2/15/01, 2/20/01 [DP].
SENATE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY
Majority Report: Do pass.
Signed by Senators Constantine, Vice Chair; Costa, Hargrove, Johnson, Kastama, Long, McCaslin, Roach and Zarelli.
Staff: Lilah Amos (786‑7421)
Background: The Washington State Patrol administers a dental identification system which contains dental records of missing and of deceased but unidentified persons. When a person has been missing for 30 days, the county coroner, medical examiner, or local law enforcement agency must attempt to obtain dental records and transmit them to the dental identification system. When deceased persons cannot be identified, the county coroner or medical examiner must conduct a dental examination and forward the identifying dental findings to the dental identification system. The dental records of the deceased person who has not been identified are to be compared with other records in the system in an effort to identify the deceased person. There is not currently a time limit within which the dental records of an unidentified deceased person must be submitted to the dental identification system.
Summary of Bill: Within 30 days of the date an unidentified body is found, the county coroner or medical examiner must conduct a dental examination and must forward records of that examination to the dental identification section of the Washington State Patrol.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Testimony For: It is important to require a timely transfer of dental records to the dental information system so missing persons can be promptly identified.
Testimony Against: None.
Testified: Captain Eric Robertson, WSP; Debbie Wilkie, Coroners & Medical Examiners, Forensic Investigators.