VETO MESSAGE ON E2SHB 1206

April 13, 2011

To the Honorable Speaker and Members,
The House of Representatives of the State of Washington

Ladies and Gentlemen:

I have approved, except for Section 3 and Section 4, Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill No. 1206 entitled:

"AN ACT Relating to harassment against criminal justice participants."

Section 3 directs the sentencing guidelines commission to report to the appropriate committees of the legislature by December 1, 2011, and annually thereafter, the number of prosecutions for criminal harassment of a criminal justice participant. Several bills now before the legislature either eliminate the sentencing guidelines commission or eliminate it as a regularly standing commission. The data identified in this section will be retained by a yet to be identified agency. Therefore, I am vetoing Section 3 and the appropriate committees of the legislature may request the data from the appropriate agency.

Section 4 causes the act to expire July 1, 2018. I believe the legislature should monitor the impact of the act and affirmatively take action to amend or repeal particular aspects of the act at a future date, if needed. Therefore, I am vetoing Section 4.

For these reasons, I have vetoed Section 3 and Section 4 of Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill No. 1206.

With the exception of Section 3 and Section 4, Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill No. 1206 is approved.

Respectfully submitted,
Christine Gregoire
Governor