BILL REQ. #:  H-4671.1 

Read first time 01/21/08.   Referred to Committee on Public Safety & Emergency Preparedness.

     AN ACT Relating to the creation of an identity theft unit within the Washington state patrol; adding a new section to chapter 43.43 RCW; and making an appropriation.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 43.43 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) An identity theft unit is created in the Washington state patrol, which shall be under the direction of the chief of the Washington state patrol.
     (2) The identity theft unit shall investigate all identity theft cases and any identity theft case that may be in relation to, but is not limited to, theft, forgery, cyber crimes, fraud, or criminal impersonation.
     (3) The identity theft unit shall study and develop a plan for an effective statewide unit for identity theft to be funded in the 2009-2011 biennium. The identity theft unit shall report its findings and recommendations to the legislature by December 31, 2008.
     (4) The identity theft unit shall be organized at the discretion of the chief of the Washington state patrol.
     (5) The identity theft unit shall be comprised of a total of four state patrol officers dedicated to work identity theft cases.
     (6) The identity theft unit shall assist local jurisdictions in the investigation of identity theft crimes under subsection (2) of this section that cross existing jurisdictional lines or that require specialized technical skills.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   The sum of three hundred thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2009, from the general fund to the Washington state patrol for purposes of implementing this act.