SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5281

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

Government Operations & Elections, February 18, 2003

Title: An act relating to jail booking fees.

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

Sponsors: Senators Roach, Kastama, Fairley, Rasmussen, Horn, Eide, Oke, Regala, Franklin, McCaslin, Brandland, Esser, McAuliffe and Shin.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Government Operations & Elections: 2/14/03, 2/18/03 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS & ELECTIONS

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5281 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Roach, Chair; Stevens, Vice Chair; Kastama, McCaslin and Reardon.

Staff: Mac Nicholson (786-7445)

Background: Municipalities and counties are authorized to require any person booked at a city, county, or regional jail to pay a $10 booking fee to the sheriff's department of the county or police chief of the city in which the jail is located.

Summary of Substitute Bill: Municipalities and counties can require any person who is booked in a city, county, or regional jail to pay a booking fee based on, but not to exceed, the jail's actual booking costs.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill: The substitute adds the provision that the jail booking cannot exceed the jail's actual booking costs.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

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

Testimony For: County and city jail budgets are tight and allowing booking fees based on actual costs will generate more money for operating the jail. This bill places the financial responsibility for booking on the person committing the crime.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified: Jim Mattheis, City of Tacoma (pro).