Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1.  "(1) Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, by December 1, 2017, the sentencing guidelines commission shall contract for the services of an external consultant to evaluate the state's sentencing laws and practices. The consultant must have demonstrated experience and knowledge in Washington's sentencing system and other sentencing systems and models in other states and nations. The consultant must have demonstrated experience in conducting significant research studies. The evaluation must include:

(a) A review of the sentencing reform act of 1981 and any changes made to the sentencing reform act since that time;

(b) Recommendations regarding how sentencing laws in Washington can be simplified without risking public safety; and

(c) Recommendations for establishing an ongoing review of sentencing laws and practices.

(2) The consultant shall complete its evaluation and submit a report to the commission, the joint legislative task force on criminal sentencing under section 2 of this act, the appropriate committees of the legislature, and the governor by September 1, 2018. The contract for services must include a requirement for three briefings before the legislature to take place during the 2018 interim and 2019 regular legislative session, including for the joint legislative task force on sentencing, the house of representatives, and the senate.

(3) This section expires July 1, 2019.

(2) The task force is composed of members as provided in this subsection.

(a) The president of the senate shall appoint one member from each of the two largest caucuses of the senate.

(b) The speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint one member from each of the two largest caucuses of the house of representatives.

(c) The president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives jointly shall appoint members representing the:

(i) Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs;

(ii) Washington state patrol;

(iii) Caseload forecast council;

(iv) Washington association of prosecuting attorneys;

(v) Washington association of criminal defense attorneys or the Washington defender association;

(vi) Washington state association of counties;

(vii) Office of the attorney general;

(viii) American civil liberties union of Washington;

(ix) Sentencing guidelines commission;

(x) Department of corrections;

(xi) Superior court judges' association; and

(xii) Administrative office of the courts.

(3)(a) The task force shall review sentencing laws after consideration of the study under section 1 of this act and the consultant's recommendations. The task force shall review and make recommendations regarding how the sentencing reform act of 1981 can be simplified.

(b) The task force shall submit a report, including findings and recommendations, to the governor and the appropriate committees of the legislature by December 1, 2019.

(4) The legislative membership shall convene the initial meeting of the task force no later than September 2018.

(5) The legislative members of the task force shall choose the task force's cochairs, which must include one senator and one representative from among the legislative membership of the task force.

(6) Staff support for the task force must be provided by senate committee services and the house office of program research.

(7) Legislative members of the task force are reimbursed for travel expenses in accordance with RCW 44.04.120. Nonlegislative members are not entitled to be reimbursed for travel expenses if they are elected officials or are participating on behalf of an employer, governmental entity, or other organization. Any reimbursement for other nonlegislative members is subject to chapter 43.03 RCW.

(8) The expenses of the task force shall be paid jointly by the senate and the house of representatives. Task force expenditures are subject to approval by the senate facilities and operations committee and the house executive rules committee, or their successor committees.

(9) This section expires July 1, 2020."

On page 1, line 1 of the title, after "offenders;" strike the remainder of the title and insert "creating new sections; and providing expiration dates."