HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1280

BYRepresentatives Braddock, Brooks, Sprenkle, Crane, May and P. King; by request of Department of Corrections

Revising the crime of custodial assault.

House Committe on Health Care

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (8)

      Signed by Representatives Braddock, Chair; Brooks, Cantwell, Lewis, Lux, D. Sommers, Sprenkle and Vekich.

House Staff:Antonio Sanchez (786-7383)

AS PASSED HOUSE JANUARY 25, 1988

BACKGROUND:

In 1987 a custodial assault bill was passed that established the offense of custodial assault (assault of the fourth degree). This law applied only to assaults occurring in a local detention center or state corrections facility. There is no equal provision in the law, however, for penalizing a person who commits an assault while under the supervision of a community corrections officer or juvenile rehabilitation counselor.

SUMMARY:

This bill amends the 1987 RCW 9A.36.100 to provide equal protection for all community corrections officers and juvenile rehabilitation counselors.  A charge of assault of the fourth degree will be assessed to anyone who assaults a full- or part- time community corrections officer, or any full-time, part-time, or volunteer while they are performing there official duties in any juvenile corrections institution, juvenile detention facilities, adult corrections institution or local adult retention facilities.

Fiscal Note:      Requested January 18, 1988.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Nancy Campbell, Department of Corrections; Scott Sigmon, Washington Federation of State Employees.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    Extends the same protections to community corrections officers that are presently extended other correctional staff.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.