VETO MESSAGE ON SB 5719-S

May 17, 2005

To the Honorable President and Members,

The Senate of the State of Washington

Ladies and Gentlemen:

I am returning without my approval, Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill No. 5719 entitled:

"AN ACT Relating to the community commitment disposition alternative pilot program."

This bill would have provided juvenile courts with a "community commitment" alternative to committing delinquent youth to the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS). The state would have paid all costs, including detention and administration. Current law already provides courts with five alternatives to DSHS commitment, but none of them include state funding of county detention costs. This bill, based on a pilot program that was used in only one case, would have encouraged the use of a new alternative instead of the existing ones, and would have unjustifiably shifted costs to the state. The existing alternatives to DSHS commitment have been effective.

For these reasons, I have vetoed Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill No. 5719 in its entirety.

Respectfully submitted,

Christine O. Gregoire

Governor