BILL REQ. #:  S-2462.1 

READ FIRST TIME 02/28/07.   

     AN ACT Relating to a pilot program for enforcement of financial fraud and identity theft laws; creating a new section; and making an appropriation.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   (1) It is the intent of the legislature to create a pilot program to provide assistance for jurisdictions enforcing financial fraud and identity theft laws.
     (2) Three pilot enforcement areas shall be established beginning on January 1, 2008, two in the two largest counties by population west of the crest of the Cascade mountains, and one in the largest county by population east of the crest of the Cascade mountains.
     (3) Funding received for the purposes of this section through appropriations, gifts, and grants shall be divided equally between the three pilot enforcement areas. This funding is intended to provide for additional deputy prosecutors, law enforcement, clerical staff, and other support for the prosecution of financial fraud and identity theft crimes. County prosecutors are encouraged to utilize and share resources that operate in the region through the use of interlocal agreements. The funding appropriated for this purpose must not be used to supplant existing funding and cannot be used for any purpose other than the enforcement of financial fraud and identity theft laws. Appropriated state funds must be used to match gifts and grants of private sector funds for the purposes of this section, and expenditure of appropriated state funds may not exceed expenditure of private funds.
     (4) The department of community, trade, and economic development shall appoint a task force in each county with a pilot enforcement area. Each task force shall include the following members:
     (a) Two members from financial institutions;
     (b) One member of the Washington association of county prosecutors;
     (c) One member of the Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs;
     (d) One member of the Washington state association of municipal attorneys; and
     (e) One law enforcement officer.
     (5) The task force in each county shall provide advice and expertise in order to facilitate the prosecutor's efforts to prosecute and reduce the incidence of financial fraud and identity theft crimes.
     (6) For the purposes of this section, "financial fraud and identity theft crimes" include those that involve: Check fraud, chronic unlawful issuance of bank checks, embezzlement, credit/debit card fraud, identity theft, forgery, counterfeit instruments (checks, documents, etc.), organized counterfeit check rings, and organized ID theft rings.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   The sum of one million dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008, from the general fund to the department of community, trade, and economic development to be used as matching funds for the purposes of section 1 of this act.