SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5261

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5261 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

Signed by Senators Hargrove, Chair; Regala, Vice Chair; Stevens, Ranking Minority Member; Brandland, Carrell and Kauffman.

Background: The Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC) has developed the Sex Offender Notification and Registration system (SONAR) for implementation in Washington. SONAR is designed to be a statewide data system that will:

allow counties and the Department of Corrections to directly input sex offender information into the database so that updated information is immediately available to counties across the state;

allow counties to utilize the system on their website to provide public access to local sex offender information as authorized by statute; and

provide a notification system allowing citizens to request and receive notification regarding sex offenders who move within a given proximity.

WASPC anticipates bringing most counties online by February of 2009.

Summary of Bill (Recommended Substitute): When funded, WASPC must implement and operate an electronic statewide unified sex offender registration and notification program.

Similar to other data and notification programs maintained by WASPC, no public employee or public agency may be held liable for the release of information so long as the release was without gross negligence.

EFFECT OF CHANGES MADE BY HUMAN SERVICES & CORRECTIONS COMMITTEE (Recommended Substitute): The name of the database is changed to differentiate the system from the sex offender registry maintained by the Washington State Patrol. Provisions are reorganized for clarity.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony on Original Bill: PRO: This bill resulted out of recommendations from the Governor and the Legislature last year. Funding was provided to implement a statewide sex offender management data system. WASPC is currently in the process of doing that. This bill codifies the provisions in the budget proviso from last year and gives WASPC the same liability protection it has for the other systems it maintains. Thurston County was one of the first counties to implement the system. It will notify a county when an offender moves from one county to the next in order to assist both counties in better tracking the offender. The system is a good safety tool for the community and is extremely user friendly.