BILL REQ. #: S-5147.2

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SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 6406
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State of Washington

60th Legislature

2008 Regular Session

By Senate Human Services & Corrections (originally sponsored by Senators Franklin, Hargrove, Kohl-Welles, Weinstein, Carrell, Marr, Fairley, Shin, Kauffman, Fraser, Pridemore, Rasmussen, Sheldon, Murray, McAuliffe, McDermott, and Kline)

READ FIRST TIME 02/08/08.

AN ACT Relating to offender education; adding new sections to chapter 72.09 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1 The legislature intends to create a program in civic education to be taught in conjunction with basic skills education. This program is designed to facilitate successful reintegration into the community following release.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 72.09 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) As a component of basic skills education, the department shall create, by rule, a program to provide offenders who are United States citizens with the opportunity to participate in programs designed to educate offenders on American citizenship and civil rights. The program shall include, but not be limited to, the following topics:
     (a) Responsible citizenship;
     (b) Rights lost to felony offenders and restoration, including gun ownership and possession;
     (c) Voting laws and felony voting rights restoration;
     (d) Legal financial obligations;
     (e) Sex offender registration and community notification; and
     (f) Civic participation, including participation in local, state, and federal government processes, school boards, neighborhood organizations, and nonprofit or volunteer organizations.
     (2) Upon satisfactory completion of a program, the department shall issue a certificate of completion to an offender.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3 A new section is added to chapter 72.09 RCW to read as follows:
The department shall provide to offenders, before release into the community, information regarding community service providers that provide educational services and other assistance programs to offenders.

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