Z-403                 _______________________________________________

                                                    HOUSE BILL NO. 159

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1985 Regular Session

By Representatives Belcher, Taylor, Sutherland, Peery and P. King

Read first time 1/23/85 and referred to Committee on State Government.

AN ACT Relating to rewards; and amending RCW 10.85.030, 10.85.040, and 10.85.050.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

        Sec. 1.  Section 1, page 124, Laws of 1886 as last amended by section 1, chapter 211, Laws of 1981 and RCW 10.85.030 are each amended to read as follows:

          The legislative authority of any county in the state ((or)),  a port commission, or a state agency, when in its opinion the public good requires it, is hereby authorized to offer and pay a suitable reward to any person or persons for information leading to:

          (a) The arrest of a specified person or persons convicted of or charged with any criminal offense; ((or))

          (b) The arrest and conviction of a person or persons committing a specified criminal offense; or

(c) The recovery of stolen property.

          In the event of crimes against county, state, or port district property, including but not limited to road signs, vehicles, buildings, or any other type of county, state, or port district property, the legislative authority of any county ((or)), a port commission, or a state agency, may offer and pay a suitable reward to any person or persons who shall furnish information leading to the arrest and conviction of any person of any offense against this county, state agency, or port district property, including but not limited to those offenses set forth in RCW 9A.48.070 through 9A.48.090, whether or not the offense is a felony, gross misdemeanor, or misdemeanor.

        Sec. 2.  Section 3, page 124, Laws of 1886 as amended by section 2, chapter 53, Laws of 1979 ex. sess. and RCW 10.85.040 are each amended to read as follows:

          When more than one claimant applies for the payment of any reward, offered by any county legislative authority or state agency, the county legislative authority or state agency shall determine to whom the same shall be paid, and if to more than one person, in what proportion to each; and their determination shall be final and conclusive.

        Sec. 3.  Section 2, page 124, Laws of 1886 as amended by section 3, chapter 53, Laws of 1979 ex. sess. and RCW 10.85.050 are each amended to read as follows:

          Whenever any reward has been offered by any county legislative authority or state agency in the state under RCW 10.85.030, the person or persons providing the information shall be entitled to the reward.  The state agency may pay such reward out of any funds appropriated or available to it, and the county legislative authority which has offered the reward is authorized to draw a warrant or warrants out of any money in the county treasury not otherwise appropriated.