HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1232

As Reported by House Committee On:

Criminal Justice & Corrections

Title: An act relating to jail booking fees.

Brief Description: Requiring jail booking fees to be based on actual costs.

Sponsors: Representatives Kirby, Carrell and Flannigan.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Criminal Justice & Corrections: 2/4/03, 2/14/03 [DPS].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE & CORRECTIONS

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 7 members: Representatives O'Brien, Chair; Darneille, Vice Chair; Mielke, Ranking Minority Member; Ahern, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Kagi, Lovick and Pearson.

Staff: Yvonne Walker (786-7841).

Background:

Municipalities and counties are authorized to require any person who is booked in a county or municipal jail to pay a $10 booking fee to the sheriff's department or police chief's department where the jail is located. The person may pay the booking fee from any money currently in his or her possession. If the person does not have any money in his or her current possession, then the sheriff must notify the court for assessment of the fee. If the defendant is acquitted, not charged, or if the charges are dismissed, then the sheriff or police chief must return the booking fee to the defendant at the last known address in the booking records.

Summary of Substitute Bill:

Municipalities and counties are authorized to require any person who is booked in a county or municipal jail to pay the actual cost incurred for his or her booking or $100, whichever is less, as opposed to a flat $10 booking fee.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:

A provision is added that limits the booking fee charge to $100 or less.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: In this time of budgetary constraints and low tax revenue, law enforcement departments feel it is time to place increased accountability on the individuals committing crimes in our community. In 2002 the Tacoma police departments booked 4,898 individuals in Pierce County jails at a cost to the people of $489,654. These initial bookings are a necessary part of the business of law enforcement. This bill will allow counties to reallocate funding to other areas of its' community.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified: David Brame, Tacoma Police Department.