Passed by the Senate April 17, 2007 YEAS 46 NAYS 0 BRAD OWEN ________________________________________ President of the Senate Passed by the House April 3, 2007 YEAS 95 NAYS 1 FRANK CHOPP ________________________________________ Speaker of the House of Representatives		CERTIFICATE 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. THOMAS HOEMANN ________________________________________ Secretary
Approved May 8, 2007, 4:44 p.m. CHRISTINE GREGOIRE ________________________________________ Governor of the State of Washington		FILED May 10, 2007 Secretary of State 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.