READ FIRST TIME 02/28/07.   

     AN ACT Relating to protecting and recovering property owned by utilities, telecommunications companies, railroads, state agencies, political subdivisions of the state, construction firms, and other parties; reenacting and amending RCW 9.94A.533; adding new sections to chapter 9.94A RCW; adding a new chapter to Title 19 RCW; creating a new section; repealing RCW 9.91.110; and prescribing penalties.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   DEFINITIONS. The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
     (1) "Commercial account" means a relationship between a scrap metal business and a commercial enterprise that is ongoing and properly documented under section 3 of this act.
     (2) "Commercial enterprise" means a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association, state agency, political subdivision of the state, public corporation, or any other legal or commercial entity.
     (3) "Commercial metal property" means: Utility access covers; street light poles and fixtures; road and bridge guardrails; highway or street signs; water meter covers; traffic directional and control signs; traffic light signals; any metal property marked with the name of a commercial enterprise, including but not limited to a telephone, cable, electric, water, natural gas, or other utility, or railroad; unused or undamaged building construction materials consisting of copper pipe, tubing, or wiring, or aluminum wire, siding, downspouts, or gutters; aluminum or stainless steel fence panels made from one inch tubing, forty-two inches high with four inch gaps; aluminum decking, bleachers, or risers; historical markers; statue plaques; grave markers and funeral vases; or agricultural irrigation wheels, sprinkler heads, and pipes.
     (4) "Nonferrous metal property" means metal property for which the value of the metal property is derived from the property's content of copper, brass, aluminum, bronze, lead, zinc, nickel, and their alloys, and unwanted electronic product, as that term is defined under RCW 70.95N.020. "Nonferrous metal property" does not include precious metals.
     (5) "Precious metals" means gold, silver, and platinum.
     (6) "Record" means a paper, electronic, or other method of storing information.
     (7) "Scrap metal business" means a scrap metal supplier, scrap metal recycling center, and scrap metal processor.
     (8) "Scrap metal processor" means a person with a current business license that conducts business from a permanent location, that is engaged in the business of purchasing or receiving metal property for the purpose of altering the metal in preparation for its use as feedstock in the manufacture of new products, and that maintains a hydraulic bailer, shearing device, or shredding device for recycling.
     (9) "Scrap metal recycling center" means a person with a current business license that is engaged in the business of purchasing or receiving nonferrous metal property for the purpose of aggregation and sale to another scrap metal business and that maintains a fixed place of business within the state.
     (10) "Scrap metal supplier" means a person with a current business license that is engaged in the business of purchasing or receiving nonferrous metal property for the purpose of aggregation and sale to a scrap metal recycling center or scrap metal processor and that does not maintain a fixed business location in the state.
     (11) "Transaction" means a pledge, or the purchase of, or the trade of any item of nonferrous metal property by a scrap metal business from a member of the general public. "Transaction" does not include donations or the purchase or receipt of nonferrous metal property by a scrap metal business from a commercial enterprise, from another scrap metal business, or from a duly authorized employee or agent of the commercial enterprise or scrap metal business.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   RECORDS REQUIRED FOR PURCHASING NONFERROUS METAL PROPERTY FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC. (1) At the time of a transaction, every scrap metal business doing business in this state shall produce wherever that business is conducted an accurate and legible record of each transaction involving nonferrous metal property. This record must be written in the English language, documented on a standardized form or in electronic form, and contain the following information:
     (a) The signature of the person with whom the transaction is made;
     (b) The time, date, location, and value of the transaction;
     (c) The name of the employee representing the scrap metal business in the transaction;
     (d) The name, street address, and telephone number of the person with whom the transaction is made;
     (e) The license plate number and state of issuance of the license plate on the motor vehicle used to deliver the nonferrous metal property subject to the transaction;
     (f) A description of the motor vehicle used to deliver the nonferrous metal property subject to the transaction;
     (g) The current driver's license number or other government-issued picture identification card number of the seller or a copy of the seller's government-issued picture identification card; and
     (h) A description of the predominant types of nonferrous metal property subject to the transaction, including the property's classification code as provided in the institute of scrap recycling industries scrap specifications circular, 2006, and weight, quantity, or volume.
     (2) For every transaction that involves nonferrous metal property, every scrap metal business doing business in the state shall require the person with whom a transaction is being made to sign a declaration. The declaration may be included as part of the transactional record required under subsection (1) of this section, or on a receipt for the transaction. The declaration must state substantially the following:
     "I, the undersigned, affirm under penalty of law that the property that is subject to this transaction is not to the best of my knowledge stolen property."
     The declaration must be signed and dated by the person with whom the transaction is being made. An employee of the scrap metal business must witness the signing and dating of the declaration and sign the declaration accordingly before any transaction may be consummated.
     (3) The record and declaration required under this section must be open to the inspection of any commissioned law enforcement officer of the state or any of its political subdivisions at all times during the ordinary hours of business, or at reasonable times if ordinary hours of business are not kept, and must be maintained wherever that business is conducted for one year following the date of the transaction.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   REQUIREMENTS FOR PURCHASING OR RECEIVING NONFERROUS METAL PROPERTY FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC. (1) No scrap metal business may enter into a transaction to purchase or receive nonferrous metal property from any person who cannot produce at least one piece of current government-issued picture identification, including a valid driver's license or identification card issued by any state.
     (2) No scrap metal business may purchase or receive commercial metal property unless the seller: (a) Has a commercial account with the scrap metal business; (b) can prove ownership of the property by producing written documentation that the seller is the owner of the property; or (c) can produce written documentation that the seller is an employee or agent authorized to sell the property on behalf of a commercial enterprise.
     (3) No scrap metal business may enter into a transaction to purchase or receive metallic wire that was burned in whole or in part to remove insulation unless the seller can produce written proof to the scrap metal business that the wire was lawfully burned.
     (4) No transaction involving nonferrous metal property valued at greater than thirty dollars may be made in cash or with any person who does not provide a street address under the requirements of section 2 of this act. For transactions valued at greater than thirty dollars, the person with whom the transaction is being made may only be paid by a nontransferable check, mailed by the scrap metal business to a street address provided under section 2 of this act, no earlier than ten days after the transaction was made. A transaction occurs on the date provided in the record required under section 2 of this act.
     (5) No scrap metal business may purchase or receive beer kegs from anyone except a manufacturer of beer kegs or licensed brewery.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   RECORD FOR COMMERCIAL ACCOUNTS. (1) Every scrap metal business must create and maintain a permanent record with a commercial enterprise, including another scrap metal business, in order to establish a commercial account. That record, at a minimum, must include the following information:
     (a) The full name of the commercial enterprise or commercial account;
     (b) The business address and telephone number of the commercial enterprise or commercial account; and
     (c) The full name of the person employed by the commercial enterprise who is authorized to deliver nonferrous metal property and commercial metal property to the scrap metal business.
     (2) The record maintained by a scrap metal business for a commercial account must document every purchase or receipt of nonferrous metal property and commercial metal property from the commercial enterprise. The documentation must include, at a minimum, the following information:
     (a) The time, date, and value of the property being purchased or received;
     (b) A description of the predominant types of property being purchased or received; and
     (c) The signature of the person delivering the property to the scrap metal business.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   REPORTING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT. (1) Upon request by any commissioned law enforcement officer of the state or any of its political subdivisions, every scrap metal business shall furnish a full, true, and correct transcript of the records from the purchase or receipt of nonferrous metal property involving a specific individual, vehicle, or item of nonferrous metal property or commercial metal property. This information may be transmitted within a specified time of not less than two business days to the applicable law enforcement agency electronically, by facsimile transmission, or by modem or similar device, or by delivery of computer disk subject to the requirements of, and approval by, the chief of police or the county's chief law enforcement officer.
     (2) If the scrap metal business has good cause to believe that any nonferrous metal property or commercial metal property in his or her possession has been previously lost or stolen, the scrap metal business shall promptly report that fact to the applicable commissioned law enforcement officer of the state, the chief of police, or the county's chief law enforcement officer, together with the name of the owner, if known, and the date when and the name of the person from whom it was received.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6   PRESERVING EVIDENCE OF METAL THEFT. (1) Following notification, either verbally or in writing, from a commissioned law enforcement officer of the state or any of its political subdivisions that an item of nonferrous metal property or commercial metal property has been reported as stolen, a scrap metal business shall hold that property intact and safe from alteration, damage, or commingling, and shall place an identifying tag or other suitable identification upon the property. The scrap metal business shall hold the property for a period of time as directed by the applicable law enforcement agency up to a maximum of ten business days.
     (2) A commissioned law enforcement officer of the state or any of its political subdivisions shall not place on hold any item of nonferrous metal property or commercial metal property unless that law enforcement agency reasonably suspects that the property is a lost or stolen item. Any hold that is placed on the property must be removed within ten business days after the property on hold is determined not to be stolen or lost and the property must be returned to the owner or released.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 7   UNLAWFUL VIOLATIONS. It is a gross misdemeanor under chapter 9A.20 RCW for:
     (1) Any person to deliberately remove, alter, or obliterate any manufacturer's make, model, or serial number, personal identification number, or identifying marks engraved or etched upon an item of nonferrous metal property or commercial metal property in order to deceive a scrap metal business;
     (2) Any scrap metal business to enter into a transaction to purchase or receive any nonferrous metal property or commercial metal property where the manufacturer's make, model, or serial number, personal identification number, or identifying marks engraved or etched upon the property have been deliberately and conspicuously removed, altered, or obliterated;
     (3) Any person to knowingly make, cause, or allow to be made any false entry or misstatement of any material matter in any book, record, or writing required to be kept under this chapter;
     (4) Any scrap metal business to enter into a transaction to purchase or receive nonferrous metal property or commercial metal property from any person under the age of eighteen years or any person who is discernibly under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs;
     (5) Any scrap metal business to enter into a transaction to purchase or receive nonferrous metal property or commercial metal property with anyone whom the scrap metal business has been informed by a law enforcement agency to have been convicted of a crime involving drugs, burglary, robbery, theft, or possession of or receiving stolen property, manufacturing, delivering, or possessing with intent to deliver methamphetamine, or possession of ephedrine or any of its salts or isomers or salts of isomers, pseudoephedrine or any of its salts or isomers or salts of isomers, or anhydrous ammonia with intent to manufacture methamphetamine within the past ten years whether the person is acting in his or her own behalf or as the agent of another;
     (6) Any person to sign the declaration required under section 2 of this act knowing that the nonferrous metal property subject to the transaction is stolen. The signature of a person on the declaration required under section 2 of this act constitutes evidence of intent to defraud a scrap metal business if that person is found to have known that the nonferrous metal property subject to the transaction was stolen;
     (7) Any scrap metal business to possess commercial metal property that was not lawfully purchased or received under the requirements of this chapter; or
     (8) Any scrap metal business to engage in a series of transactions valued at less than thirty dollars with the same seller for the purposes of avoiding the requirements of section 3(4) of this act.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 8   CIVIL PENALTIES. (1) Each violation of the requirements of this chapter that are not subject to the criminal penalties under section 7 of this act shall be punishable, upon conviction, by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars.
     (2) Within two years of being convicted of a violation of any of the requirements of this chapter that are not subject to the criminal penalties under section 7 of this act, each subsequent violation shall be punishable, upon conviction, by a fine of not more than two thousand dollars.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 9   EXEMPTIONS. The provisions of this chapter do not apply to transactions conducted by the following:
     (1) Motor vehicle dealers licensed under chapter 46.70 RCW;
     (2) Vehicle wreckers or hulk haulers licensed under chapter 46.79 or 46.80 RCW;
     (3) Persons in the business of operating an automotive repair facility as defined under RCW 46.71.011; and
     (4) Persons in the business of buying or selling empty food and beverage containers, including metal food and beverage containers.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 10   A new section is added to chapter 9.94A RCW to read as follows:
     (1) In a prosecution for theft in the first or second degree, the prosecution may file a special allegation of disproportionate impact when sufficient admissible evidence exists, which, when considered with the most plausible, reasonably foreseeable defense that could be raised under the evidence, would justify a finding by a reasonable and objective fact-finder that the damage to the victim greatly exceeds the value of the stolen property.
     (2) Once a special allegation has been made under this section, the state has the burden to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the damage to the victim greatly exceeds the value of the stolen property. If a jury is had, the jury shall, if it finds the defendant guilty, also find a special verdict as to whether the damage to the victim greatly exceeds the value of the stolen property. If no jury is had, the court shall make a finding of fact as to whether the damage to the victim greatly exceeds the value of the stolen property.
     (3) For the purposes of this section, damage to the victim greatly exceeds the value of the stolen property when the replacement cost of the stolen item is more than three times the value of the stolen item, or the theft of the item creates a public hazard.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 11   A new section is added to chapter 9.94A RCW to read as follows:
     (1) In a prosecution for possessing stolen property in the first or second degree, the prosecution may file a special allegation of disproportionate impact when sufficient admissible evidence exists, which, when considered with the most plausible, reasonably foreseeable defense that could be raised under the evidence, would justify a finding by a reasonable and objective fact-finder that the damage to the victim from whom the property was stolen greatly exceeds the value of the stolen property.
     (2) Once a special allegation has been made under this section, the state has the burden to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the damage to the victim from whom the property was stolen greatly exceeds the value of the stolen property. If a jury is had, the jury shall, if it finds the defendant guilty, also find a special verdict as to whether the damage to the victim from whom the property was stolen greatly exceeds the value of the stolen property. If no jury is had, the court shall make a finding of fact as to whether the damage to the victim from whom the property was stolen greatly exceeds the value of the stolen property.
     (3) For the purposes of this section, damage to the victim from whom the property was stolen greatly exceeds the value of the stolen property when the replacement cost of the stolen item is more than three times the value of the stolen item, or the theft of the item creates a public hazard.

Sec. 12   RCW 9.94A.533 and 2006 c 339 s 301 and 2006 c 123 s 1 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:
     (1) The provisions of this section apply to the standard sentence ranges determined by RCW 9.94A.510 or 9.94A.517.
     (2) For persons convicted of the anticipatory offenses of criminal attempt, solicitation, or conspiracy under chapter 9A.28 RCW, the standard sentence range is determined by locating the sentencing grid sentence range defined by the appropriate offender score and the seriousness level of the completed crime, and multiplying the range by seventy-five percent.
     (3) The following additional times shall be added to the standard sentence range for felony crimes committed after July 23, 1995, if the offender or an accomplice was armed with a firearm as defined in RCW 9.41.010 and the offender is being sentenced for one of the crimes listed in this subsection as eligible for any firearm enhancements based on the classification of the completed felony crime. If the offender is being sentenced for more than one offense, the firearm enhancement or enhancements must be added to the total period of confinement for all offenses, regardless of which underlying offense is subject to a firearm enhancement. If the offender or an accomplice was armed with a firearm as defined in RCW 9.41.010 and the offender is being sentenced for an anticipatory offense under chapter 9A.28 RCW to commit one of the crimes listed in this subsection as eligible for any firearm enhancements, the following additional times shall be added to the standard sentence range determined under subsection (2) of this section based on the felony crime of conviction as classified under RCW 9A.28.020:
     (a) Five years for any felony defined under any law as a class A felony or with a statutory maximum sentence of at least twenty years, or both, and not covered under (f) of this subsection;
     (b) Three years for any felony defined under any law as a class B felony or with a statutory maximum sentence of ten years, or both, and not covered under (f) of this subsection;
     (c) Eighteen months for any felony defined under any law as a class C felony or with a statutory maximum sentence of five years, or both, and not covered under (f) of this subsection;
     (d) If the offender is being sentenced for any firearm enhancements under (a), (b), and/or (c) of this subsection and the offender has previously been sentenced for any deadly weapon enhancements after July 23, 1995, under (a), (b), and/or (c) of this subsection or subsection (4)(a), (b), and/or (c) of this section, or both, all firearm enhancements under this subsection shall be twice the amount of the enhancement listed;
     (e) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, all firearm enhancements under this section are mandatory, shall be served in total confinement, and shall run consecutively to all other sentencing provisions, including other firearm or deadly weapon enhancements, for all offenses sentenced under this chapter. However, whether or not a mandatory minimum term has expired, an offender serving a sentence under this subsection may be granted an extraordinary medical placement when authorized under RCW 9.94A.728(4);
     (f) The firearm enhancements in this section shall apply to all felony crimes except the following: Possession of a machine gun, possessing a stolen firearm, drive-by shooting, theft of a firearm, unlawful possession of a firearm in the first and second degree, and use of a machine gun in a felony;
     (g) If the standard sentence range under this section exceeds the statutory maximum sentence for the offense, the statutory maximum sentence shall be the presumptive sentence unless the offender is a persistent offender. If the addition of a firearm enhancement increases the sentence so that it would exceed the statutory maximum for the offense, the portion of the sentence representing the enhancement may not be reduced.
     (4) The following additional times shall be added to the standard sentence range for felony crimes committed after July 23, 1995, if the offender or an accomplice was armed with a deadly weapon other than a firearm as defined in RCW 9.41.010 and the offender is being sentenced for one of the crimes listed in this subsection as eligible for any deadly weapon enhancements based on the classification of the completed felony crime. If the offender is being sentenced for more than one offense, the deadly weapon enhancement or enhancements must be added to the total period of confinement for all offenses, regardless of which underlying offense is subject to a deadly weapon enhancement. If the offender or an accomplice was armed with a deadly weapon other than a firearm as defined in RCW 9.41.010 and the offender is being sentenced for an anticipatory offense under chapter 9A.28 RCW to commit one of the crimes listed in this subsection as eligible for any deadly weapon enhancements, the following additional times shall be added to the standard sentence range determined under subsection (2) of this section based on the felony crime of conviction as classified under RCW 9A.28.020:
     (a) Two years for any felony defined under any law as a class A felony or with a statutory maximum sentence of at least twenty years, or both, and not covered under (f) of this subsection;
     (b) One year for any felony defined under any law as a class B felony or with a statutory maximum sentence of ten years, or both, and not covered under (f) of this subsection;
     (c) Six months for any felony defined under any law as a class C felony or with a statutory maximum sentence of five years, or both, and not covered under (f) of this subsection;
     (d) If the offender is being sentenced under (a), (b), and/or (c) of this subsection for any deadly weapon enhancements and the offender has previously been sentenced for any deadly weapon enhancements after July 23, 1995, under (a), (b), and/or (c) of this subsection or subsection (3)(a), (b), and/or (c) of this section, or both, all deadly weapon enhancements under this subsection shall be twice the amount of the enhancement listed;
     (e) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, all deadly weapon enhancements under this section are mandatory, shall be served in total confinement, and shall run consecutively to all other sentencing provisions, including other firearm or deadly weapon enhancements, for all offenses sentenced under this chapter. However, whether or not a mandatory minimum term has expired, an offender serving a sentence under this subsection may be granted an extraordinary medical placement when authorized under RCW 9.94A.728(4);
     (f) The deadly weapon enhancements in this section shall apply to all felony crimes except the following: Possession of a machine gun, possessing a stolen firearm, drive-by shooting, theft of a firearm, unlawful possession of a firearm in the first and second degree, and use of a machine gun in a felony;
     (g) If the standard sentence range under this section exceeds the statutory maximum sentence for the offense, the statutory maximum sentence shall be the presumptive sentence unless the offender is a persistent offender. If the addition of a deadly weapon enhancement increases the sentence so that it would exceed the statutory maximum for the offense, the portion of the sentence representing the enhancement may not be reduced.
     (5) The following additional times shall be added to the standard sentence range if the offender or an accomplice committed the offense while in a county jail or state correctional facility and the offender is being sentenced for one of the crimes listed in this subsection. If the offender or an accomplice committed one of the crimes listed in this subsection while in a county jail or state correctional facility, and the offender is being sentenced for an anticipatory offense under chapter 9A.28 RCW to commit one of the crimes listed in this subsection, the following additional times shall be added to the standard sentence range determined under subsection (2) of this section:
     (a) Eighteen months for offenses committed under RCW 69.50.401(2) (a) or (b) or 69.50.410;
     (b) Fifteen months for offenses committed under RCW 69.50.401(2) (c), (d), or (e);
     (c) Twelve months for offenses committed under RCW 69.50.4013.
     For the purposes of this subsection, all of the real property of a state correctional facility or county jail shall be deemed to be part of that facility or county jail.
     (6) An additional twenty-four months shall be added to the standard sentence range for any ranked offense involving a violation of chapter 69.50 RCW if the offense was also a violation of RCW 69.50.435 or 9.94A.605. All enhancements under this subsection shall run consecutively to all other sentencing provisions, for all offenses sentenced under this chapter.
     (7) An additional two years shall be added to the standard sentence range for vehicular homicide committed while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug as defined by RCW 46.61.502 for each prior offense as defined in RCW 46.61.5055.
     (8)(a) The following additional times shall be added to the standard sentence range for felony crimes committed on or after July 1, 2006, if the offense was committed with sexual motivation, as that term is defined in RCW 9.94A.030. If the offender is being sentenced for more than one offense, the sexual motivation enhancement must be added to the total period of total confinement for all offenses, regardless of which underlying offense is subject to a sexual motivation enhancement. If the offender committed the offense with sexual motivation and the offender is being sentenced for an anticipatory offense under chapter 9A.28 RCW, the following additional times shall be added to the standard sentence range determined under subsection (2) of this section based on the felony crime of conviction as classified under RCW 9A.28.020:
     (i) Two years for any felony defined under the law as a class A felony or with a statutory maximum sentence of at least twenty years, or both;
     (ii) Eighteen months for any felony defined under any law as a class B felony or with a statutory maximum sentence of ten years, or both;
     (iii) One year for any felony defined under any law as a class C felony or with a statutory maximum sentence of five years, or both;
     (iv) If the offender is being sentenced for any sexual motivation enhancements under (i), (ii), and/or (iii) of this subsection and the offender has previously been sentenced for any sexual motivation enhancements on or after July 1, 2006, under (i), (ii), and/or (iii) of this subsection, all sexual motivation enhancements under this subsection shall be twice the amount of the enhancement listed;
     (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, all sexual motivation enhancements under this subsection are mandatory, shall be served in total confinement, and shall run consecutively to all other sentencing provisions, including other sexual motivation enhancements, for all offenses sentenced under this chapter. However, whether or not a mandatory minimum term has expired, an offender serving a sentence under this subsection may be granted an extraordinary medical placement when authorized under RCW 9.94A.728(4);
     (c) The sexual motivation enhancements in this subsection apply to all felony crimes;
     (d) If the standard sentence range under this subsection exceeds the statutory maximum sentence for the offense, the statutory maximum sentence shall be the presumptive sentence unless the offender is a persistent offender. If the addition of a sexual motivation enhancement increases the sentence so that it would exceed the statutory maximum for the offense, the portion of the sentence representing the enhancement may not be reduced;
     (e) The portion of the total confinement sentence which the offender must serve under this subsection shall be calculated before any earned early release time is credited to the offender;
     (f) Nothing in this subsection prevents a sentencing court from imposing a sentence outside the standard sentence range pursuant to RCW 9.94A.535.
     (9) An additional twelve months and one day shall be added to the standard sentence range for theft in the first or second degree when there has been a special verdict or finding that the damage to the victim greatly exceeds the value of the stolen property under section 10 of this act.
     (10) An additional twelve months and one day shall be added to the standard sentence range for possessing stolen property in the first or second degree when there has been a special verdict or finding that the damage to the victim from whom the property was stolen greatly exceeds the value of the stolen property under section 11 of this act.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 13   Sections 1 through 9 of this act constitute a new chapter in Title 19 RCW.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 14   RCW 9.91.110 (Metal buyers -- Records of purchases -- Penalty) and 1971 ex.s. c 302 s 18 are each repealed.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 15   Captions used in this act are not any part of the law.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 16   If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.