BILL REQ. #:  H-4656.1 

READ FIRST TIME 02/06/04.   

     AN ACT Relating to inmate booking fees; and amending RCW 70.48.390.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1   RCW 70.48.390 and 2003 c 99 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) A governing unit may require that each person who is booked at a city, county, or regional jail pay a fee based on the jail's actual booking costs or one hundred dollars, whichever is less, to the sheriff's department of the county or police chief of the city in which the jail is located. The fee is payable immediately from any money then possessed by the person being booked, or any money deposited with the sheriff's department or city jail administration on the person's behalf. If the person has no funds at the time of booking or during the period of incarceration, the sheriff or police chief may notify the court in the county or city where the charges related to the booking are pending, and may request the assessment of the fee. Unless the person is held on other criminal matters, if the person is not charged, is acquitted, or if all charges are dismissed, the sheriff or police chief shall return the fee to the person at the last known address listed in the booking records.
     (2) A county, city, or regional jail shall offset the fees collected from defendants under this section against specific operating costs related to booking of inmates.