READ FIRST TIME 02/08/08.   

     AN ACT Relating to admissibility of evidence in sex offense cases; adding a new section to chapter 10.58 RCW; and creating new sections.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   In Washington, the legislature and the courts share the responsibility for enacting rules of evidence. The court's authority for enacting rules of evidence arises from a statutory delegation of that responsibility to the court and from Article IV, section 1 of the state Constitution. State v. Fields, 85 Wn.2d 126, 129, 530 P.2d 284 (1975).
     The legislature's authority for enacting rules of evidence arises from the Washington supreme court's prior classification of such rules as substantive law. See State v. Sears, 4 Wn.2d 200, 215, 103 P.2d 337 (1940) (the legislature has the power to enact laws which create rules of evidence); State v. Pavelich, 153 Wash. 379, 279 P. 1102 (1929) ("rules of evidence are substantiative law").
     The legislature adopts this exception to Evidence Rule 404(b) to ensure that juries receive the necessary evidence to reach a just and fair verdict.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 10.58 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) In a criminal action in which the defendant is accused of a sex offense, evidence of the defendant's commission of another sex offense or sex offenses is admissible, notwithstanding Evidence Rule 404(b), if the evidence is not inadmissible pursuant to Evidence Rule 403.
     (2) In a case in which the state intends to offer evidence under this rule, the attorney for the state shall disclose the evidence to the defendant, including statements of witnesses or a summary of the substance of any testimony that is expected to be offered, at least fifteen days before the scheduled date of trial or at such later time as the court may allow for good cause.
     (3) This section shall not be construed to limit the admission or consideration of evidence under any other evidence rule.
     (4) For purposes of this section, "sex offense" means:
     (a) Any offense defined as a sex offense by RCW 9.94A.030;
     (b) Any violation under RCW 9A.44.096 (sexual misconduct with a minor in the second degree); and
     (c) Any violation under RCW 9.68A.090 (communication with a minor for immoral purposes).
     (5) For purposes of this section, uncharged conduct is included in the definition of "sex offense."
     (6) When evaluating whether evidence of the defendant's commission of another sexual offense or offenses should be excluded pursuant to Evidence Rule 403, the trial judge shall consider the following factors:
     (a) The similarity of the prior acts to the acts charged;
     (b) The closeness in time of the prior acts to the acts charged;
     (c) The frequency of the prior acts;
     (d) The presence or lack of intervening circumstances;
     (e) The necessity of the evidence beyond the testimonies already offered at trial;
     (f) Whether the prior act was a criminal conviction;
     (g) Whether the probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, confusion of the issues, or misleading the jury, or by considerations of undue delay, waste of time, or needless presentation of cumulative evidence; and
     (h) Other facts and circumstances.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   Section 2 of this act applies to any case that is tried on or after its adoption.