Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Public Safety Committee |
SSB 5430
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. |
Brief Description: Concerning notice to a victim when a registered out-of-state sex offender moves to Washington.
Sponsors: Senate Committee on Law & Justice (originally sponsored by Senators Pearson, Fortunato and Conway).
Brief Summary of Substitute Bill |
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Hearing Date: 3/14/17
Staff: Omeara Harrington (786-7136).
Background:
Any adult or juvenile who has been convicted or found not guilty by reason of insanity of any sex or kidnapping offense must register with the sheriff in the county of the person's residence. A person registering as a sex or kidnapping offender must provide certain information, including: name and any aliases; residential address; date and place of birth; place of employment; crime, date, and place of conviction; and Social Security number. In addition, the person must submit to a photograph and fingerprinting, and is required to provide a DNA sample. If a person has a duty to register and fails to do so, he or she is guilty of a crime.
Sex offenders and kidnapping offenders who move to Washington from another state or a foreign country must register with the county sheriff within three business days of establishing residence, or reestablishing residence if the person is a former Washington resident. If the offender is under the jurisdiction of a Washington agency when the offender moves to Washington, the agency must notify the offender of his or her duty to register.
The Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs maintains a publicly accessible online database of information regarding registered sex offenders classified as level II (moderate risk to reoffend) and level III (high risk to reoffend), and all registered kidnapping offenders. In addition, the database contains information regarding level I sex registered offenders (low risk to reoffend) who are noncompliant with registration requirements or lack a fixed residence. Statute allows disclosure to any requesting victim or witness, among others, of relevant, necessary, and accurate information regarding a registered offender.
Summary of Bill:
When a sex offender or kidnapping offender moves to Washington from another state, the county sheriff must make reasonable efforts to notify any victim of an offender who resides in Washington. Notification must be provided through the victim's choice of telephone, email, or letter, if known.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.