Governor signs another key corrections bill aimed at CCO safety

Gov. Chris Gregoire this morning (May 5) signed the omnibus Corrections safety bill that’s a response to the murder of Monroe Correctional Officer Jayme Biendl.

ESB 5907 includes a new Statewide Security Advisory Committee that must include a senior ranking Community Corrections officer.

And the new law mandates that the Department of Corrections report back to the governor and the Legislature by Nov. 1 on issues related to safety in Community Corrections. The department must “engage employees from all levels of the Community Corrections division” in preparing the report.

On hand for the bill signing were ESB 5907’s prime sponsor, Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles of the 36th District and one of the bill’s co-sponsors, Sen. Steve Conway of the 29th District.

The measure passed the Senate 49-0 and the House 97-0.