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Page 8 — Shelton-Mason County Journal Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023
Legislators campaign against sex Offender housing
By Matt Baidemw
matt@masoncounty.com
Legislation by Mason County leg-
islators to restrict sex offender hous—
ing failed to pass out of committee
Friday, the final day for policy bills
to advance.
According to a news release, Rep.
Dan Griffey, R—Allyn, and seatmate
Rep. Travis Couture, R-Allyn, intro—
duced House Bill 1813, which would
only allow the Department of Social
and Health Services to house sex of-
fenders in facilities on McNeil Island
or a facility in South Seattle. The bill
would also restrict the state from us-
ing any new facilities.
The bills are in response to a Teni-
no residential home run by a private
company to house sex offenders. The '
first occupant was scheduled to arrive
Feb. 1, but Thurston County officials
were able to delay the plan by citing
the facility’s lack of water permits.
“This is a dangerous practice that
leaves children and families at risk.
Families —— and law enforCement
—— are only finding out about these
placements at the last minute with
virtually no chance to have a say.
The existing policy is unworkable,”
Griffey said in a news release. “It is
time the state of Washington priori-
tizes the public’s safety.”
Couture is sponsoring House Bill
1734, according to the release, which
would close the public notice loophole
in the process of placing sex offend-
ers into less restrictive alternative
hOusing.
“This would immediately end this
dangerous, misguided plan’to house
sex predators in reach of- schools,
parks, and recreational areas,” Cou-
ture said in a news release. “This bill
would force our state government to
do its fundamental job of protecting
innocent people from high-risk Sex of—
fenders and give us time to develop a
reasonable, long-term plan.”
Sen. Drew MacEwen, R-Shelton, is
sponsoring Senate Bill 5544, which is
a companion bill that would close the
public notice loophole.
“We need an immediate morato-
rium on LRA homes until the Leg—
islature can come up with a compre-
hensive long-term plan that protects
our communities from these violent
sexual predators,” MacEwen said in
' a news release.
Couture said in the release that
Gov. Jay Inslee and his staff have ex-
pressed interest in assisting with the
issue,.but the governor and his staff
did not weigh in prior to committee
cutoff.
The, two local representatives stat—
ed that even though they did not get
a committee vote in time, they plan
to keep pushing the issue and leg-
‘islation and encourage anyone who
wants to see the law changed.
“I have spent my time in the Legis-
lature fighting for survivors of sexual
assault, including my own family,”
Griffey said in a news release. “The
fact that this is the policy we have
on the books in Washington state
in 2023 is an embarrassment and a
threat to all families regardless of
what your politics are.”
Salisbury honOred
Couture introduced House Reso-
lution 4612, introduced and adopted
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Feb. 3, honoring former Mason Coun—
ty Sheriff Casey Salisbury.
The resolution addressed Salis-
bury’s tenure at the Thurston County
Sheriffs Office and the Mason Coun-
ty Sheriffs Office and his time as a
substitute teacher.
“Sheriff Salisbury always brought
his love of people and zeal for teach-
ing to every position he held, dedi-
cating himself to service, reflect—
ing credit upon himself, the Mason
County Sheriff’s Office, and all of law
enforcement,” the resolution reads.
“His efforts ensured that children,
adults, residents, and visitors to
Mason County were cared for with
excellence.”
That was the last bill or resolution
put forth by Couture as a primary
sponsor. He was the primary sponsor
on seven bills or resolutions, includ—
ing House Bill 1274, which creates a
child malnutrition field guide for the
state Department of Children, Youth
and Families, which passed out of
committee Feb. 15.
Private law
enforcement work
Griffey had House Bill 1369 unan-
imously approved out of the House
Community Safety, Justice and Re-
entry Committee on Feb. 13.
According to a news release, the
bill allows state Department of Fish
and Wildlife officers to work private
law enforcement jobs, similar to
what Washington State Patrol troop—
ers can‘do. It encourages its officers
to work off—duty law enforcement
jobs and directs the agency to create
policy guidelines.
“As Washington deals with a short-
age of law enforcement officers, it is
important that those state-trained .
officers are protecting the public,”
Griffey said in a news release. “WSP
and WDFW are the only law enforce-
ment agencies in the state with gen-
eral authority and statewide juris-
diction. This bill will make sure our
fully trained Fish and Wildlife offi—
cers have the same opportunities as
troopers to work private law enforce-
ment jobs at concerts, profession-
a1 sporting events, and other large
events, venues and worksites across
the state.” \
WDFW Lieutenant Erik Olson
testified for the bill.
“Without a certain number of uni—
formed officers, the NFL Will not al-
low a game to be played. The prima-
ry mission of the off—duty officer is to
work the games to preserve life, deter
terrorism, and to enforce Washing-
ton state 1aw,” Olson said in a news
release. “To put it succinctly, off-duty
law enforcement employment helps
ensure the safety of the public.”
Griffey was the primary sponsor
on seven bills this session. He was
the primary sponsor on House Bill
1705, which concerns stormwater
control facilities and county jurisdic—
tion, which passed out of the House
Committee on Local Government on
Feb. 17. He was a primary sponsor
on House Bill 1766, which creates
a hope card program, passed out of
the House Civil Rights and Judicia-
ry Committee on Feb. 17. The House
Appropriations Committee hosted
a public hearing on the HB 1766 on
Wednesday.
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