| Passed by the Senate April 17, 2007 YEAS 46 ________________________________________ President of the Senate Passed by the House April 3, 2007 YEAS 95 ________________________________________ Speaker of the House of Representatives | I, Thomas Hoemann, Secretary of the Senate of the State of Washington, do hereby certify that the attached is SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5987 as passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives on the dates hereon set forth. ________________________________________ Secretary | |
| Approved ________________________________________ Governor of the State of Washington | Secretary of State State of Washington |
| State of Washington | 60th Legislature | 2007 Regular Session |
READ FIRST TIME 02/28/07.
AN ACT Relating to gang-related offenses; and creating new sections.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1 The legislature finds that the people of
Washington state face a crisis brought upon by increased gang crime and
violence, which is threatening public safety in communities across the
state. Those who live in communities where gang membership is on the
rise find themselves living with the daily threat of intimidation and
harassment. Ordinary citizens are increasingly vulnerable to
gang-related crimes such as drug dealing, damage to real property,
theft of personal property and automobiles, or even assault, rape, and
murder. Even those not directly affected by gang-related crime, share
in the indirect costs such as lower property values, higher insurance
premiums, and the endangerment of our youth. Moreover, our first
responders find themselves increasingly vulnerable to personal injury
or death when responding to gang-related crimes such as drug dealing,
assault, driving without a license, or attempting to elude a police
vehicle.
It is the intent of the legislature to establish a work group to
evaluate and make legislative recommendations regarding the problem of
gang-related crime in Washington state.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2 The Washington association of sheriffs and
police chiefs is directed to convene a work group to evaluate the
problem of gang-related crime in Washington state. Members shall
include one member from each of the two largest caucuses in the house
of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of
representatives, one member from each of the two largest caucuses in
the senate, appointed by the president of the senate, and
representatives of the following, appointed jointly by the president of
the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives: The office
of the attorney general, local law enforcement, prosecutors and
municipal attorneys, criminal defense attorneys, court administrators,
prison or detention administrators and probation officers, and experts
in gang or delinquency prevention including the governor's juvenile
justice advisory committee. The work group shall evaluate and make
recommendations regarding additional legislative measures to combat
gang-related crime, the creation of a statewide gang information
database, possible reforms to the juvenile justice system for
gang-related juvenile offenses, best practices for prevention and
intervention of youth gang membership, and the adoption of legislation
authorizing a civil antigang injunction. The Washington association of
sheriffs and police chiefs shall report back to the legislature on its
findings and the recommendations of the work group or groups on or
before January 1, 2008.