Brief Description: Removing the expiration date from community protection zone provisions.

Sponsors: Representatives Clements and O'Brien.

Hearing Date: 1/26/06

Staff: Jim Morishima (786-7191).

Background:

Offenders who commit a first "two strikes" offense are subject to "determinate-plus" sentencing. A court must sentence such offender to a minimum term and a maximum term. The minimum term is generally equal to the standard range sentence. The maximum term is equal to the statutory maximum for the offense: life for class A felonies, 10 years for class B felonies, and five years for class C felonies.

The Indeterminate Sentence Review Board (ISRB) must evaluate the offender prior to the expiration of the minimum term. The ISRB must order the release of the offender upon expiration of the minimum term unless the offender is likelier than not to commit a sex offense if released. If the ISRB does not release the offender, it must re-evaluate the offender at least once every two years up to the offenders maximum term. If the ISRB releases the offender, the offender will be on community custody status for the remainder of his or her maximum term.

An offender sentenced to a determinate-plus sentence for a two-strikes offense committed against a minor victim is prohibited from living within a "community protection zone" for the duration of his or her term of community custody. A community protection zone is the area within two blocks of a public or private school. The legislation creating these living restrictions terminates on July 1, 2006.

Summary of Bill:

The expiration date is repealed for the prohibition against "two strikes" offenders residing within community protection zones.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested on January 16, 2006.

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