CERTIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT

ENGROSSED SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 2570

Chapter 233, Laws of 2012

(partial veto)

62nd Legislature
2012 Regular Session



METAL PROPERTY THEFT



EFFECTIVE DATE: 06/07/12

Passed by the House March 5, 2012
  Yeas 92   Nays 6

FRANK CHOPP
________________________________________    
Speaker of the House of Representatives


Passed by the Senate March 2, 2012
  Yeas 49   Nays 0


BRAD OWEN
________________________________________    
President of the Senate
 
CERTIFICATE

I, Barbara Baker, Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives of the State of Washington, do hereby certify that the attached is ENGROSSED SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 2570 as passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on the dates hereon set forth.


BARBARA BAKER
________________________________________    
Chief Clerk
Approved March 30, 2012, 1:06 p.m., with the exception of Section 1 which is vetoed.







CHRISTINE GREGOIRE
________________________________________    
Governor of the State of Washington
 
FILED
March 30, 2012







Secretary of State
State of Washington


_____________________________________________ 

ENGROSSED SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 2570
_____________________________________________

AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE

Passed Legislature - 2012 Regular Session
State of Washington62nd Legislature2012 Regular Session

By House Public Safety & Emergency Preparedness (originally sponsored by Representatives Goodman, Hurst, and Ross)

READ FIRST TIME 01/31/12.   



     AN ACT Relating to metal property theft; amending RCW 9A.56.030 and 9A.56.040; creating a new section; prescribing penalties; and providing an expiration date.

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

     *NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   (1) The task force on commercial and nonferrous metal property theft is established. For purposes of this section, "commercial metal property," "nonferrous metal property," and "scrap metal business" have the same meanings as defined in RCW 19.290.010.
     (2) The purpose of the task force is to formulate suggestions for state policy regarding regulation of commercial and nonferrous metal property theft.
     (3) The task force shall consist of the following members:
     (a) A scrap metal business located in Washington that is not affiliated with the institute of scrap recycling industries;
     (b) A scrap metal business located in Washington who is appointed by and a member of the institute of scrap recycling industries, or its successor organization and whose primary business location is located in a city with a minimum population more than five hundred thousand;
     (c) A scrap metal business located in Washington who is appointed by and a member of the institute of scrap recycling industries, or its successor organization and whose primary business location is located in a city with a maximum population less than five hundred thousand;
     (d) One investor-owned utility, as defined in RCW 19.29A.010, whose service territory is predominately located on the western side of the Cascade mountain range;
     (e) One investor–owned utility, as defined in RCW 19.29A.010, whose service territory is predominately located on the eastern side of the Cascade mountain range;
     (f) A consumer-owned utility, as defined in RCW 19.29A.010;
     (g) A municipally owned utility;
     (h) A representative of the Washington department of transportation;
     (i) A representative of the Washington state prosecutors association;
     (j) A representative of the Washington state patrol;
     (k) A representative from a city with a population of less than five hundred thousand;
     (l) A representative from a city with a population of more than five hundred thousand;
     (m) A representative of a law enforcement agency, appointed by the Washington council of police and sheriffs;
     (n) A representative from the Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs;
     (o) A representative from a county appointed by the Washington state association of counties;
     (p) A representative of the broadband and cable telecommunications industry;
     (q) A representative of the wireless telecommunications industry;
     (r) A representative of the wireline telecommunications industry;
     (s) A representative from the Washington state emergency communications committee;
     (t) A representative from the AM/FM radio communications industry;
     (u) A representative from the Washington state farm bureau;
     (v) A representative of crime victims, appointed by the office of crime victims advocacy;
     (w) A representative of a Washington state affiliate of a national trade association representing commercial electrical contractors installing electrical fixtures and materials; and
     (x) A representative of a Washington state affiliate of a national trade association representing commercial plumbing contractors installing plumbing fixtures and materials.
     (4) The task force shall elect a chair and organize itself in a manner, and adopt rules of procedure that it determines are most conducive to the timely completion of its charge.
     (5) In conducting its study, the task force shall consider, at a minimum, the following issues:
     (a) Penalties, both criminal and civil, for theft of commercial and nonferrous metal property including, but not limited to, issues such as categorization of crimes, trespass, organized commercial metal property theft, and aggregation of crimes;
     (b) Valuation in the criminal prosecution of theft of commercial and nonferrous metal property, where the actual damages of the theft may greatly exceed the value of the stolen property;
     (c) The role of local governments in policing and prosecuting theft of commercial and nonferrous property;
     (d) Restrictions on cash purchases of commercial and nonferrous metal property;
     (e) Private rights of action to prosecute theft of commercial and nonferrous metal property;
     (f) Registration or licensing of all scrap metal businesses;
     (g) A no-buy list for commercial and nonferrous metal purchases;
     (h) Use and effectiveness of a scrap theft alert system, such as scraptheftalert.com, offered as a no fee service by the institute of scrap recycling industries; and
     (i) Such other items the task force deems necessary.
     (6) The task force shall meet at least quarterly.
     (7) Members must seek reimbursement for travel and other membership expenses through their respective agencies or organizations within existing resources.
     (8) The task force shall report its preliminary findings and recommendations for legislative action to the legislature by December 31, 2012. The task force shall continue to communicate and collaborate regarding a policy plan through December 31, 2014.
     (9) This section expires December 31, 2014.
     *Sec. 1 was vetoed. See message at end of chapter.

Sec. 2   RCW 9A.56.030 and 2009 c 431 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) A person is guilty of theft in the first degree if he or she commits theft of:
     (a) Property or services which exceed(s) five thousand dollars in value other than a firearm as defined in RCW 9.41.010;
     (b) Property of any value, other than a firearm as defined in RCW 9.41.010 or a motor vehicle, taken from the person of another; ((or))
     (c) A search and rescue dog, as defined in RCW 9.91.175, while the search and rescue dog is on duty; or
     (d) Metal wire, taken from a public service company, as defined in RCW 80.04.010, or a consumer-owned utility, as defined in RCW 19.280.020, and the costs of the damage to the public service company's or consumer-owned utility's property exceed five thousand dollars in value
.
     (2) Theft in the first degree is a class B felony.

Sec. 3   RCW 9A.56.040 and 2009 c 431 s 8 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) A person is guilty of theft in the second degree if he or she commits theft of:
     (a) Property or services which exceed(s) seven hundred fifty dollars in value but does not exceed five thousand dollars in value, other than a firearm as defined in RCW 9.41.010 or a motor vehicle; ((or))
     (b) A public record, writing, or instrument kept, filed, or deposited according to law with or in the keeping of any public office or public servant; ((or))
     (c) Metal wire, taken from a public service company, as defined in RCW 80.04.010, or a consumer-owned utility, as defined in RCW 19.280.020, and the costs of the damage to the public service company's or consumer-owned utility's property exceed seven hundred fifty dollars but does not exceed five thousand dollars in value; or
     (d)
An access device.
     (2) Theft in the second degree is a class C felony.


         Passed by the House March 5, 2012.
         Passed by the Senate March 2, 2012.
         Approved by the Governor March 30, 2012, with the exception of certain items that were vetoed.
         Filed in Office of Secretary of State March 30, 2012.

     Note: Governor's explanation of partial veto is as follows:

"I am returning herewith, without my approval as to Section 1, Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2570 entitled:

     "AN ACT Relating to metal property theft."

Section 1 creates a twenty-four member task force to study the issue of metal theft and make recommendations to the Legislature. As I have stated many times, I do not support the statutory creation of new boards, commissions, work groups, or task forces. I believe this task force can be assembled independently, by the interested parties, without the need for a statute. In the alternative, the Legislative Committee(s) with jurisdiction can make the issue part of its interim work plan.

For these reasons, I have vetoed Section 1 of Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2570.

With the exception of Section 1, Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2570 is approved."