Pierce County legislators move sex offender bills to Gov’s desk

March 12, 2008

OLYMPIA – Legislation to collect DNA samples from more criminals and another to notify the public of additional sex offenders won legislative approval on Monday.  Both bills were voted out of the House again after agreeing on changes made to them in the Senate.

Rep. Larry Seaquist’s, D-Gig Harbor, DNA collection legislation, HB 2713, will bolster the database maintained by the Washington State Patrol.  It’s also Gov. Chris Gregoire request legislation.

“By collecting DNA samples from people when they are convicted of a number of different crimes, we can help our law enforcement professionals rapidly identify the repeat offenders," Seaquist said.  "This broader DNA collection will speed up investigations, put more criminals behind bars, and make our communities safer.

Rep. Troy Kelley, D-University Place, prime-sponsored HB 2786, adding Level I sex offenders who fail to register with law enforcement, to the state’s sex offender registry website.

“The sex offenders this bill targets, the ones failing to register, have made it clear that they don’t want to be found,” Kelley said.  “Parents checking for offenders in their neighborhood need to know about these guys because these offenders are a real risk.”

Seaquist’s DNA bill adds several new crimes to the list of offenses requiring a mandatory DNA sample be taken.  Previously-convicted and future offenders will be subject to the expanded sampling law.   

Seaquist believes an expanded DNA database will also allow law enforcement to solve crimes quicker, freeing up hours to focus on other crimes.

“I’m very encouraged by the deterrent this DNA sampling will have on released criminals,” Seaquist said.  “Hopefully this prevention will work to stop many sex offenses from ever being committed.”

Both bills come after the tragedy in Tacoma where a young girl, Zina Linnik, was kidnapped and killed.

“You can’t be sure these laws would have prevented her death, but we can hope these new laws will prevent future cases like Zina’s,” Kelley said.