BILL REQ. #:  S-1646.1 

READ FIRST TIME 02/21/11.   

     AN ACT Relating to registered persons in adult family homes, boarding homes, and other assisted living situations; and creating new sections.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   (1) The legislature acknowledges that housing options for sex offenders in the community continue to be a challenge. While sex offender registration and notification serves an important purpose in giving information to the public so that they may keep themselves safe, it has had the counterproductive impact of reducing available housing for these individuals. Housing can also serve an important safety function by providing stability and giving law enforcement a known location where a sex offender resides.
     (2) This problem is only exacerbated when a sex offender is aging and/or has health-related issues. Available housing options are further limited and specialty providers may house other vulnerable populations. Often, providers do not have the proper training to understand how to recognize risky behavior that may put others at risk or who to contact for help in serving these populations. Further, housing these individuals in a prison or other institutional setting becomes costly for the state when their physical infirmities could be better cared for elsewhere.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   The sex offender policy board shall conduct a thorough review of the housing options for sex offenders who are aging and/or have health-related issues and therefore need some form of assisted living. By December 1, 2011, the sex offender policy board shall report to the governor and the legislature regarding:
     (1) To the extent determinable, the scope of the need for housing, including sex offender populations that may be released from the special commitment center and department of corrections as well as aging sex offenders already in the community;
     (2) The types of housing available for these populations and how they are being served currently including adult family homes, boarding homes, nursing homes, or other housing situations;
     (3) Recommended policy options to increase available housing while protecting the general public and other vulnerable persons.