HOUSE BILL REPORT

2SSB 5215

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: Do pass. Signed by 30 members: Representatives Hunter, Chair; Ormsby, Vice Chair; Chandler, Ranking Minority Member; Parker, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Wilcox, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Buys, Carlyle, Cody, Condotta, Dent, Dunshee, Fagan, Haler, Hansen, Hudgins, Jinkins, Kagi, Lytton, MacEwen, Magendanz, Pettigrew, Sawyer, Schmick, Senn, Springer, Stokesbary, Sullivan, Tharinger, Van Werven and Walkinshaw.

Background:

The Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program (ICAC Program) within the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) helps state and local law enforcement agencies develop a response to technology-facilitated child sexual exploitation and Internet crimes against children. This help encompasses forensic and investigative components, training and technical assistance, victim services, and community education.

The ICAC Program was developed in response to the increasing number of children and teenagers using the Internet, the proliferation of child sexual abuse images available electronically, and heightened online activity by predators seeking unsupervised contact with potential underage victims. The DOJ's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention created the ICAC Program under the authority of the federal fiscal year (FFY) 1998 Justice Appropriations Act. The Providing Resources, Officers, and Technology to Eradicate Cyber Threats to Our Children Act ("the PROTECT Act") of 2008 authorized the ICAC program through FFY 2013.

The ICAC Program is a national network of 61 coordinated task forces representing over 3,500 federal, state, and local law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies. These agencies are engaged in both proactive and reactive investigations, forensic investigations, and criminal prosecutions. The ICAC Program is administered in Washington through the Seattle Police Department.

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Summary of Bill:

The Washington Internet Crimes Against Children Account (Account) is created in the custody of the State Treasurer. All receipts from legislative appropriations, donations, gifts, grants, and funds from federal or private sources must be deposited into the Account. Expenditures from the Account must be used exclusively by the Washington Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and its affiliate agencies for combating internet-facilitated crimes against children, promoting education on internet safety to the public and to minors, and rescuing child victims from abuse and exploitation.

Only the Criminal Justice Training Commission (CJTC) or the CJTC's designee may authorize expenditures from the Account, which are subject to allotment procedures but do not require a legislative appropriation. The CJTC may enter into agreements with the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs to administer grants and other activities funded by the Account and be paid an administrative fee not to exceed 3 percent of expenditures.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) This bill addresses the existing Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, which has lost some of its funding. Washington is sixth [in the nation] in terms of crime. The Internet is a more effective way for people who would do wrong to children to solicit those children. It is more efficient than, for instance, waiting outside a school, and is therefore more dangerous. It is a difficult world for children to navigate; powdered alcohol and marijuana are easy to obtain. This bill helps law enforcement make the world less dangerous. Currently, law enforcement has more leads than they are able to follow. If one Internet criminal is caught, hundreds of kids can be saved.

(Opposed) None.