WA People
BILL · 2021–22 SESSION

SB 5686: Office of corrections ombuds

Improving department of corrections operations and oversight by transferring the office of corrections ombuds to the department of social and health services and designating public safety as the department of corrections highest duty.

Summary

  • Transfers the Office of Corrections Ombuds (OCO) from the Governor's Office to the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS).
  • Requires DSHS to contract with a nonprofit organization to operate OCO for a two-year term, subject to appropriations.
  • Removes conditions that limit OCO investigations to matters that adversely affect the health, safety, welfare, and rights of inmates.
  • Provides that the highest duty of the Department of Corrections (DOC) and the secretary is to ensure public safety.
  • Requires DOC to make every reasonable effort and prioritize staffing to pursue active warrants for community supervision violators.

From the Senate Bill Report (SB 5686), written by the Legislature's nonpartisan staff. Read the full report ↗

Did not pass Did not pass · died in committee
  1. IntroducedJan 10, 2022
  2. Out of committeestopped here
  3. Passed Senate
  4. Passed House
  5. Governor
  6. Law
Prime sponsor
Jim McCune (R-2)
Introduced
January 10, 2022 in the Senate
Last action
January 10, 2022
Budget
Has a fiscal note

AN ACT Relating to improving department of corrections operations and oversight by transferring the office of corrections ombuds to the department of social and health services and designating public safety as the department of corrections highest duty;

Sponsors

Prime sponsor: Jim McCune (R-2)

2 co-sponsors (0 Democrats, 2 Republicans)

Mike Padden R-4Keith Wagoner R-39

Votes

No recorded floor votes. This measure never reached a floor vote.

History

  1. First reading, referred to Human Services, Reentry & Rehabilitation.
  2. Prefiled for introduction.

SB 5686 in other sessions

Bill numbers restart every two years, so the same number is a different bill in each session.

Report wrong or missing information on this page