House passes bill to address problems with interstate compact

In response to current problems with the interstate compact that allows the exchange of parolees between Washington and other states, Rep. Troy Kelley (D-Tacoma) takes another step to reevaluate Washington’s involvement in the compact.

“When the Lakewood officers we recently mourned were killed by someone sent here from Arkansas, it was a reminder that there are problems with our public safety system – the interstate compact is one of them,” Kelley said.

On Sunday, the House passed Senate Bill 6548, which allows the suspension of parole or probation for offenders who are charged with a new felony offense in certain conditions. The bill also makes it possible to confine those offenders until charges are resolved. Adding to the bill, Kelley introduced amendment 1271, which is similar to previous legislation that he had sponsored this year to clarify problems with the compact.

“We have a number of bills here that address problems with the interstate compact,” Kelley said. “Several of those bills say we could do something, we should do something, but this amendment says we will do something immediately. This bill arms our governor to meet with the compact administrators and fix the broken system. Not next year or in five years, but now – this year.”

Amendment 1271 requires the Department of Corrections (DOC) to assess the cost and feasibility of establishing memoranda of understanding with states from which Washington state receives the highest number of offenders for supervision. Washington lawmakers are then required to provide a solution to any inequitable distribution of costs, benefits and obligation affecting Washington under the Interstate Compact and report to the Legislature.

“Washington imports nearly three times the number of offenders we export,” Kelley said. “We cannot afford to incur the additional costs for those offenders and especially not the increased threat to our safety.”