SENATE BILL REPORT

ESSB 5055

As Passed Senate, February 10, 2004

Title: An act relating to costs of incarceration.

Brief Description: Changing limits on costs of incarceration charged to offenders.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Children & Family Services & Corrections (originally sponsored by Senators Fairley and Esser).

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Children & Family Services & Corrections: 2/4/03, 2/11/03 [DPS].

Passed Senate: 2/10/04, 49-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES & CORRECTIONS

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5055 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Stevens, Chair; Parlette, Vice Chair; Carlson, Deccio, Hargrove, McAuliffe and Regala.

Staff: Fara Daun (786-7459)

Background: Under current law, felony offenders can be ordered to pay for the cost of incarceration at a rate of $50 per day if the court determines that the offender has the means to pay. In Department of Corrections facilities, cost of incarceration is deducted from earnings from prison work and from any outside funds the offender receives. Misdemeanor offenders can be required to pay up to $50 per day for costs of incarceration.

Summary of Bill: If the court determines that an offender has the means to pay, the court may order the offender to pay costs of incarceration of $50 per day if confined in a prison or the actual cost of incarceration if confined in a county jail. This change applies to both felony and misdemeanor offenders confined in a county jail.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

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

Testimony For: None.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified: No one.