Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Public Safety & Emergency Preparedness Committee |
HB 1208
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. |
Brief Description: Requiring notification of sex offenders attending schools.
Sponsors: Representatives Pearson, Hurst, Armstrong, Ross, Klippert, Schmick, Dammeier, Warnick, Haler, Smith and Kristiansen.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 1/26/11
Staff: Alexa Silver (786-7190).
Background:
A person who is required to register as a sex offender and who is attending or planning to attend school must notify the county sheriff three business days prior to arriving at the school to attend classes. The sheriff must then promptly notify the school principal. The sheriff must provide the principal with the following information about the student sex offender: name, address, date and place of birth, employment, crime of conviction, date and place of conviction, aliases, Social Security number, photo, fingerprints, and if the offender is homeless, where he or she plans to stay.
The statutory requirements for the principal's disclosure of information regarding a student sex offender are mandatory and based on the offender's risk level. For level II or III offenders, the principal must disclose information received from the sheriff to the student’s teachers and any personnel who will supervise the student or who should have the information for security purposes. For level I offenders, the principal must disclose the information to any personnel who should have the information for security purposes. Information received by the principal is confidential and must not be further disseminated, except as provided by state or federal law.
Summary of Bill:
The school district or public safety department of an institution of higher education must notify the following people if a registered sex offender classified as a risk level II or III enrolls in the school:
parents and legal guardians;
students who are 18 years of age or older;
the student's teachers; and
any other school personnel who supervise the student, who for security purposes should be aware of the student's record, or who may observe or come into contact with the student, including administrators, teachers, staff people, bus drivers, security staff, coaches, playground supervisors, and maintenance personnel.
The notice must include the student's name, crime of conviction, and the sentence imposed, as well as a link to a local law enforcement website where people can obtain further information. The notice must be in writing and sent via electronic mail (e-mail), if available. It must be sent at the beginning of the school year and any time a registered sex offender enrolls or arrives to attend classes.
School districts must collect residential addresses and e-mail addresses, if available, for parents and legal guardians, students who are 18 years of age and older, and school personnel. School districts must collect this information before the school year starts and on a periodic basis throughout the school year.
At the time a sex offender registers with the county sheriff, he or she must provide information regarding the sentence imposed.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 19, 2011.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.