H-0616.1

HOUSE BILL 1326

State of Washington
66th Legislature
2019 Regular Session
ByRepresentatives Klippert and Goodman
Read first time 01/18/19.Referred to Committee on Public Safety.
AN ACT Relating to the collection of DNA biological samples for entry into the combined DNA index system; amending RCW 43.43.754 and 9A.44.132; and creating new sections.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1. This act may be known and cited as Jennifer and Michella's law.
NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2. The legislature finds that the state of Washington has for decades routinely required collection of DNA biological samples from certain convicted offenders and persons required to register as sex and kidnapping offenders. The resulting DNA data has proven to be an invaluable component of forensic evidence analysis. Not only have DNA matches focused law enforcement efforts and resources on productive leads, assisted in the expeditious conviction of guilty persons, and provided identification of recidivist and cold case offenders, DNA analysis has also played a crucial role in absolving wrongly suspected and convicted persons and in providing resolution to those who have tragically suffered unimaginable harm.
In an effort to solve cold cases and unsolved crimes, to provide closure to victims and their family members, and to support efforts to exonerate the wrongly accused or convicted, the legislature finds that procedural improvements and measured expansions to the collection and analysis of lawfully obtained DNA biological samples are both appropriate and necessary.
Sec. 3. RCW 43.43.754 and 2017 c 272 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) A biological sample must be collected for purposes of DNA identification analysis from:
(a) Every adult or juvenile individual convicted of a felony, or any of the following crimes (or equivalent juvenile offenses):
(i) Assault in the fourth degree where domestic violence as defined in RCW 9.94A.030 was pleaded and proven (RCW 9A.36.041, 9.94A.030);
(ii) Assault in the fourth degree with sexual motivation (RCW 9A.36.041, 9.94A.835);
(iii) Communication with a minor for immoral purposes (RCW 9.68A.090);
(iv) Custodial sexual misconduct in the second degree (RCW 9A.44.170);
(v) Failure to register (((RCW 9A.44.130 for persons convicted on or before June 10, 2010, and RCW 9A.44.132 for persons convicted after June 10, 2010))chapter 9A.44 RCW);
(vi) Harassment (RCW 9A.46.020);
(vii) Patronizing a prostitute (RCW 9A.88.110);
(viii) Sexual misconduct with a minor in the second degree (RCW 9A.44.096);
(ix) Stalking (RCW 9A.46.110);
(x) Indecent exposure (RCW 9A.88.010);
(xi) Violation of a sexual assault protection order granted under chapter 7.90 RCW; and
(b) Every adult or juvenile individual who is required to register under RCW 9A.44.130.
(2) Law enforcement may submit to the forensic laboratory services bureau of the Washington state patrol, for purposes of DNA identification analysis, any lawfully obtained biological sample within its control from a deceased offender who was previously convicted of an offense under subsection (1)(a) of this section, regardless of the date of conviction.
(3) If the Washington state patrol crime laboratory already has a DNA sample from an individual for a qualifying offense, a subsequent submission is not required to be submitted.
(((3)))(4) Biological samples shall be collected in the following manner:
(a) For persons convicted of any offense listed in subsection (1)(a) of this section or adjudicated guilty of an equivalent juvenile offense, who do not serve a term of confinement in a department of corrections facility or a department of social and health services facility, and ((do serve))are serving a term of confinement in a city or county jail facility, the city or county shall be responsible for obtaining the biological samples.
(b) The local police department or sheriff's office shall be responsible for obtaining the biological samples for((:
(i) Persons convicted of any offense listed in subsection (1)(a) of this section or adjudicated guilty of an equivalent juvenile offense who do not serve a term of confinement in a department of corrections facility, and do not serve a term of confinement in a city or county jail facility; and
(ii)))persons who are required to register under RCW 9A.44.130.
(c) For persons convicted of any offense listed in subsection (1)(a) of this section or adjudicated guilty of an equivalent juvenile offense, who are serving or who are to serve a term of confinement in a department of corrections facility or a department of social and health services facility, the facility holding the person shall be responsible for obtaining the biological samples as part of the intake process. If the facility did not collect the biological sample during the intake process, then the facility shall collect the biological sample before the person is released from custody. For those persons incarcerated before June 12, 2008, who have not yet had a biological sample collected, priority shall be given to those persons who will be released the soonest.
(((4)))(d) For persons convicted of any offense listed in subsection (1)(a) of this section or adjudicated guilty of an equivalent juvenile offense, who are not immediately taken into the custody of a department of corrections facility, department of social and health services facility, a city or county jail facility, or who will not otherwise serve a term of confinement, the court shall order the person to provide a biological sample immediately. For a person who is not immediately taken into custody, the biological sample must be taken prior to the person leaving the presence of the court by the local police department or sheriff's office, or other entity designated by the court. Courts shall develop protocols to ensure the proper and efficient collection and transfer of biological samples required under this subsection.
(5) Any biological sample taken pursuant to RCW 43.43.752 through 43.43.758 may be retained by the forensic laboratory services bureau, and shall be used solely for the purpose of providing DNA or other tests for identification analysis and prosecution of a criminal offense or for the identification of human remains or missing persons. Nothing in this section prohibits the submission of results derived from the biological samples to the federal bureau of investigation combined DNA index system.
(((5)))(6) The forensic laboratory services bureau of the Washington state patrol is responsible for testing performed on all biological samples that are collected under subsection (1) of this section, to the extent allowed by funding available for this purpose. ((The director shall give priority to testing on samples collected from those adults or juveniles convicted of a felony or adjudicated guilty of an equivalent juvenile offense that is defined as a sex offense or a violent offense in RCW 9.94A.030.)) Known duplicate samples may be excluded from testing unless testing is deemed necessary or advisable by the director.
(((6)))(7) This section applies to:
(a) All adults and juveniles to whom this section applied prior to June 12, 2008;
(b) All adults and juveniles to whom this section did not apply prior to June 12, 2008, who:
(i) Are convicted on or after June 12, 2008, of an offense listed in subsection (1)(a) of this section; or
(ii) Were convicted prior to June 12, 2008, of an offense listed in subsection (1)(a) of this section and are still incarcerated on or after June 12, 2008; and
(c) All adults and juveniles who are required to register under RCW 9A.44.130 on or after June 12, 2008, whether convicted before, on, or after June 12, 2008.
(((7)))(8) This section creates no rights in a third person. No cause of action may be brought based upon the noncollection or nonanalysis or the delayed collection or analysis of a biological sample authorized to be taken under RCW 43.43.752 through 43.43.758.
(((8)))(9) The detention, arrest, or conviction of a person based upon a database match or database information is not invalidated if it is determined that the sample was obtained or placed in the database by mistake, or if the conviction or juvenile adjudication that resulted in the collection of the biological sample was subsequently vacated or otherwise altered in any future proceeding including but not limited to posttrial or postfact-finding motions, appeals, or collateral attacks.
(((9)))(10) A person commits the crime of refusal to provide DNA if the person ((has a duty to register under RCW 9A.44.130 and the person)) willfully refuses to comply with a legal request for a DNA sample as required under this section. The refusal to provide DNA is a gross misdemeanor.
Sec. 4. RCW 9A.44.132 and 2015 c 261 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) A person commits the crime of failure to register as a sex offender if the person has a duty to register under RCW 9A.44.130 for a felony sex offense and knowingly fails to comply with any of the requirements of RCW 9A.44.130.
(a) The failure to register as a sex offender pursuant to this subsection is a class C felony if:
(i) It is the person's first conviction for a felony failure to register; or
(ii) The person has previously been convicted of a felony failure to register as a sex offender in this state or pursuant to the laws of another state, or pursuant to federal law.
(b) If a person has been convicted of a felony failure to register as a sex offender in this state or pursuant to the laws of another state, or pursuant to federal law, on two or more prior occasions, the failure to register under this subsection is a class B felony.
(2) A person is guilty of failure to register as a sex offender if the person has a duty to register under RCW 9A.44.130 for a sex offense other than a felony and knowingly fails to comply with any of the requirements of RCW 9A.44.130. The failure to register as a sex offender under this subsection is a gross misdemeanor.
(3) A person commits the crime of failure to register as a kidnapping offender if the person has a duty to register under RCW 9A.44.130 for a kidnapping offense and knowingly fails to comply with any of the requirements of RCW 9A.44.130.
(a) If the person has a duty to register for a felony kidnapping offense, the failure to register as a kidnapping offender is a class C felony.
(b) If the person has a duty to register for a kidnapping offense other than a felony, the failure to register as a kidnapping offender is a gross misdemeanor.
(4) ((A person commits the crime of refusal to provide DNA if the person has a duty to register under RCW 9A.44.130 and the person willfully refuses to comply with a legal request for a DNA sample as required under RCW 43.43.754(1)(b). The refusal to provide DNA is a gross misdemeanor.
(5))) Unless relieved of the duty to register pursuant to RCW 9A.44.141 and 9A.44.142, a violation of this section is an ongoing offense for purposes of the statute of limitations under RCW 9A.04.080.
--- END ---