Animal Welfare Board of India Calls for Ban on Cow Slaughter in Tamil Nadu

The Animal Welfare Board of India recently called on the Indian state of Tamil Nadu to enact legislation banning the slaughter of cows in that state.

On August 30, 1976, the Governor of Tamil Nadu issued an administrative order banning the slaughter of cows in the state, but in the absence of any specific legislation the administrative order has gone unenforced.

Like other recent Indian efforts in this area, this seems driven less by concern over animal welfare and more over sectarian conflicts pitting majority Hindus and minority Muslims and Christians on the other side. As a report by ChennaiOnline News Service noted,

Carrying forward her steps like banning auction of cows offered to temples by the temple authorities and the legislation banning forcible conversions, the Chief Minister, J Jayalaithaa should [sic] to enact a legislation banning cow slaughter too, the board urged.

Both of those measures were aimed solidly at Christian and Muslim minorities in Tamil Nadu.

Source:

TN urged to pass law to ban cow slaughter. ChennaiOnline News Service, January 4, 2004.

Washington State Considering Animal Rights/Environmental Terrorism Legislation

On January 12, several Washington State Senators introduced legislation to address acts of environmental and animal rights terrorism in that state modeled on legislation introduced last year in the U.S. House of Representatives.

According to the legislative summary of the bill,

An “animal rights or ecological terrorist organization” is
defined as any association, organization, entity, coalition, or combination of two or more
persons with the purpose of intimidating, coercing, or causing fear with the intent to obstruct,
impede, or deter any person from participating in an activity involving animals, activity
involving natural resources, animal facility, research facility, horticultural educational or
research facility, or the lawful activity of mining, foresting, harvesting, gathering, or
processing natural resources.

It is unlawful to: (1) deprive an owner of an animal or natural resource from lawfully
participating in an activity involving animals or an activity involving natural resources under
specified circumstances, (2) obstruct or impede the use of an animal facility or the use of a
natural resource without effective consent under specified circumstances, or (3) participate
in or support animal or ecological terrorism by performing specified acts. The prohibition
does not apply to government agencies and their employees, employees of financial
institutions, secured parties, employees of an animal control authority acting within the scope
of employment, or participants in otherwise legal employee or employment organization
labor-related disputes. If the damage to property does not exceed $1,500, the offender is
guilty of a gross misdemeanor (up to one year in jail and/or a $5,000 fine). If the damage
to property exceeds $1,500, the offender is guilty of an unranked class C felony (up to one
year in jail and/or a $10,000 fine). Any violation that results in the intentional or negligent
infliction of bodily harm to any individual is punished as a class B felony ranked at level 6
on the sentencing grid (12+ to 14 months imprisonment and/or a $20,000 fine for a first
offense). A sentence outside the standard range is authorized if any of the offenses result in
the death of a human being or the death or destruction of an animal.

In addition the bill calls for the creation of a publicly available registry of anyone convicted under the statute,

A registry of animal and ecological terrorists is created. Upon conviction for an act
contained in the chapter, the offender must register with the Attorney General on a proscribed
form and notify the Attorney General if the information changes. The Attorney General
creates a website containing the information. The offender’s information remains on the
website for not less than three years. After that time, the offender may apply to the Attorney
General for removal of the information after a hearing.

On January 29, the bill was approved on a 6-2 vote by the Senate’s judiciary committee and moved on to the Ways and Means committee for its consideration.

The law was proposed in response to the August release of about 10,000 mink from a Sultan, Washington farm. Kate Roesler, co-owner of the mink farm, told the Spokane Spokesman-Review that existing laws would impose a maximum punishment of 1 year in jail for the release which caused an estimated $500,000 loss.

On the other hand, Lindsay Saibara of the Northwest Animal Rights Network told the Spokane Spokesman-Review that she worried the law might harm groups like hers,

It can target organizations like ours, that work within the legal system
and above ground.

At the time of the release, the Northwest Animal Rights Network celebrated the release of the mink and dismissed suggests that the mink might pose any ecological threat. As NARN’s Andrew Knight said at the time,

The amount of suffering that has been prevented by releasing them [the mink] from cramped cages and freeing them from an extremely cruel death more than justifies a temporary disruption to the ecosystem.

The full text of the proposed bill can be read here.

Sources:

Bill targets ‘eco-terrorism’; It would toughen penalties, create registry. Richard Roesler, Spokane Spokesman-Review (Washington), January 16, 2004.

Washington State Senate Bill 6114 – Animal and Eco-Terrorism

S-3721.4    _____________________________________________

SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 6114 _____________________________________________

State of Washington 58th Legislature 2004 Regular Session

By Senate Committee on Judiciary (originally sponsored by Senators Stevens, Winsley, Oke, Schmidt, Honeyford, Mulliken, Parlette, Finkbeiner, Deccio, Swecker, Zarelli, Morton, Hewitt, Sheahan, Horn, Rasmussen, Roach and Benton)

READ FIRST TIME 01/30/04.

AN ACT Relating to criminal offenses involving animals or natural resources; amending RCW 9A.82.090, 9A.82.100, 9A.82.120, and 9.94A.535; reenacting and amending RCW 9A.82.010 and 9.94A.515; adding a new chapter to Title 9A RCW; prescribing penalties; and providing an effective date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

{+ NEW SECTION. +} Sec. 1. The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise. (1) "Animal" means any warm or cold-blooded animal or insect which is lawfully being used in food, fur, or fiber production, agriculture, research, testing, or education. "Animal" does not include any animal or insect held primarily as a pet. (2) "Activity involving animals" means any lawful activity involving the use of animals or animal parts, including: (a) Hunting, fishing, and trapping; (b) Food production, processing, and preparation; (c) Clothing manufacturing and distribution; (d) Medical or other research; (e) Entertainment and recreation; (f) Agriculture; or (g) Any other services involving the use of animals. (3) "Activity involving natural resources" means any lawful activity involving the use of a natural resource with an economic value, including mining, foresting, harvesting, or processing natural resources. (4) "Animal facility" means a vehicle, building, structure, research facility, nature preserve, or other premises where an animal is lawfully: (a) Housed, exhibited, bred, or offered for sale, including a zoo, amusement park, or preserve, or a location at which a circus or a rodeo or other competitive event is held; or (b) Used for scientific purposes, including research, testing, and experiments. (5) "Animal rights or ecological terrorist organization" means any association, organization, entity, coalition, or combination of two or more persons with the primary or incidental purpose of intimidating, coercing, causing fear with the intent to obstruct, or impeding any person from participating in an activity involving animals, activity involving natural resources, or an animal facility, horticultural facility, or research facility, or the lawful activity of mining, foresting, harvesting, gathering, or processing natural resources. (6) "Effective consent" means consent by the owner or by a person legally authorized to act for the owner. Consent is not effective if it is: (a) Induced by force or threat; (b) Given by a person that the offender knows or reasonably should have known is not an agent for the owner; or (c) Given by a person who by reason of youth, mental disease, or defect, or being under the influence of drugs or alcohol is known by the offender to be unable to make reasonable decisions. (7) "Horticultural facility" means any horticultural premises as defined in RCW 15.08.010, any horticultural facility as defined in RCW 15.13.250, or any premises used for horticultural research or educational purposes. (8) "Natural resource" means a material source of wealth, such as timber, fresh water, or a mineral deposit, that occurs in a natural state and has economic value.

{+ NEW SECTION. +} Sec. 2. (1) It is unlawful for an animal or ecological terrorist organization or any person acting on its behalf or at its request or for its benefit or any individual to intentionally: (a) Deprive the owner of an animal or natural resource from lawfully participating in an activity involving animals, an activity involving natural resources, or lawful use of a horticultural facility by: (i) Interfering with access to or from an animal, natural resource, or horticultural facility by: (A) Physically obstructing or impeding the free passage of a person seeking to enter or depart from the facility or from common areas of the real property upon which the facility is located; (B) Making noise that unreasonably disturbs the peace within the facility; (C) Telephoning the facility repeatedly, or knowingly permitting any telephone under his or her control to be used for such a purpose; or (D) Threatening to inflict injury on the owners, agents, employees, animals, or property of the facility or knowingly permitting any telephone under his or her control to be used for such a purpose; (ii) Taking or detaining an animal, natural resource, or other property and agreeing to restore it only upon reward or other compensation; or (iii) Damaging or disposing of an animal, natural resource, or other property or to so alter its condition or usefulness that the value of the animal, natural resource, or other property is substantially reduced. (b) Obstruct or impede the use of an animal facility or horticultural facility or the use of a natural resource without the effective consent of the owner by: (i) Damaging or destroying an animal or horticultural facility or other property in or on the premises; (ii) Entering an animal or horticultural facility that is at the time closed to the public; (iii) Remaining concealed in an animal or horticultural facility with the intent to commit an act prohibited by this chapter; (iv) Entering an animal or horticultural facility and committing or attempting to commit an act prohibited by this chapter; (v) Entering an animal or horticultural facility to take pictures by photograph, video camera, or other means with the intent to commit criminal activities; (vi) Entering or remaining on the premises of an animal or horticultural facility if the person or organization: (A) Had notice that the entry was forbidden; or (B) Received notice to depart but failed to do so; or (c) Participate in or support animal or ecological terrorism, including raising, soliciting, collecting, or providing any person with material, financial support, or other resources such as lodging, training, safe houses, false documentation, or identification, communications, equipment, or transportation that will be used in whole or in part to encourage, plan, prepare, carry out, publicize, promote, or aid an act of animal or ecological terrorism, the concealment of, or an escape from an act of animal or ecological terrorism. (2) It is an exception to the application of subsection (1) of this section that the conduct is engaged in by: (a) A government agency or an employee of a government agency acting in the course and scope of his or her employment; (b) An employee of a financial institution or other secured party acting in the course and scope of his or her employment; (c) An employee of an animal control authority or a recognized animal shelter or humane society acting in the course and scope of his or her employment; (d) An employee or employee organization participating in a strike, work slowdown, or stoppage of any kind, or other labor-related dispute, lawfully picketing, or providing the public with truthful information regarding the existence of a dispute with the employer.

{+ NEW SECTION. +} Sec. 3. (1) A person convicted of an act that violates section 2 of this act and that results in one thousand five hundred dollars or less in physical damage or destruction of property is guilty of a gross misdemeanor and shall be punished according to chapter 9A.20 RCW. (2) A person convicted of an act that violates section 2 of this act and that results in more than one thousand five hundred dollars in physical damage or destruction of property is guilty of a class C felony and shall be punished according to chapter 9A.20 RCW. (3) Any person convicted of an act that violates section 2 of this act, and such act intentionally or negligently results in bodily harm to any individual, is guilty of a class B felony and shall be punished according to chapter 9A.20 RCW. (4) If conduct that constitutes an offense under this section also constitutes an offense under any other law, the defendant may be prosecuted under either law or both laws.

{+ NEW SECTION. +} Sec. 4. There is created the registry of animal and ecological terrorists. A person who is convicted of or pleads guilty to an act that violates this chapter shall be registered with the attorney general on a form prescribed by the attorney general. The registry shall contain the name, a current residence address, a recent photograph, and signature of the offender. The offender is required to provide written notice to the attorney general regarding any change in name or residence address within thirty days of making the change. The attorney general shall create a website containing the information set forth in this section for each person who is convicted or pleads guilty to a violation of this chapter. Information regarding an offender shall remain on the website for not less than three years at which time the registrant may apply to the attorney general for removal after a hearing on the application for removal.

Sec. 5. RCW 9A.82.010 and 2003 c 119 s 6, 2003 c 113 s 3, and 2003 c 53 s 85 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows: Unless the context requires the contrary, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter. (1)(a) "Beneficial interest" means: (i) The interest of a person as a beneficiary under a trust established under Title 11 RCW in which the trustee for the trust holds legal or record title to real property; (ii) The interest of a person as a beneficiary under any other trust arrangement under which a trustee holds legal or record title to real property for the benefit of the beneficiary; or (iii) The interest of a person under any other form of express fiduciary arrangement under which one person holds legal or record title to real property for the benefit of the other person. (b) "Beneficial interest" does not include the interest of a stockholder in a corporation or the interest of a partner in a general partnership or limited partnership. (c) A beneficial interest is considered to be located where the real property owned by the trustee is located. (2) "Control" means the possession of a sufficient interest to permit substantial direction over the affairs of an enterprise. (3) "Creditor" means a person making an extension of credit or a person claiming by, under, or through a person making an extension of credit. (4) "Criminal profiteering" means any act, including any anticipatory or completed offense, committed for financial gain, {+ or an offense, including an anticipatory or completed offense, or a lawfully obtained and otherwise admissible confession to have completed an offense, that is defined in chapter 9A.-- RCW (sections 1 through 4 of this act), whether or not committed for financial gain, +} that is chargeable or indictable under the laws of the state in which the act occurred and, if the act occurred in a state other than this state, would be chargeable or indictable under the laws of this state had the act occurred in this state and punishable as a felony and by imprisonment for more than one year, regardless of whether the act is charged or indicted, as any of the following: (a) Murder, as defined in RCW 9A.32.030 and 9A.32.050; (b) Robbery, as defined in RCW 9A.56.200 and 9A.56.210; (c) Kidnapping, as defined in RCW 9A.40.020 and 9A.40.030; (d) Forgery, as defined in RCW 9A.60.020 and 9A.60.030; (e) Theft, as defined in RCW 9A.56.030, 9A.56.040, 9A.56.060, 9A.56.080, and 9A.56.083; (f) Unlawful sale of subscription television services, as defined in RCW 9A.56.230; (g) Theft of telecommunication services or unlawful manufacture of a telecommunication device, as defined in RCW 9A.56.262 and 9A.56.264; (h) Child selling or child buying, as defined in RCW 9A.64.030; (i) Bribery, as defined in RCW 9A.68.010, 9A.68.020, 9A.68.040, and 9A.68.050; (j) Gambling, as defined in RCW 9.46.220 and 9.46.215 and 9.46.217; (k) Extortion, as defined in RCW 9A.56.120 and 9A.56.130; (l) Unlawful production of payment instruments, unlawful possession of payment instruments, unlawful possession of a personal identification device, unlawful possession of fictitious identification, or unlawful possession of instruments of financial fraud, as defined in RCW 9A.56.320; (m) Extortionate extension of credit, as defined in RCW 9A.82.020; (n) Advancing money for use in an extortionate extension of credit, as defined in RCW 9A.82.030; (o) Collection of an extortionate extension of credit, as defined in RCW 9A.82.040; (p) Collection of an unlawful debt, as defined in RCW 9A.82.045; (q) Delivery or manufacture of controlled substances or possession with intent to deliver or manufacture controlled substances under chapter 69.50 RCW; (r) Trafficking in stolen property, as defined in RCW 9A.82.050; (s) Leading organized crime, as defined in RCW 9A.82.060; (t) Money laundering, as defined in RCW 9A.83.020; (u) Obstructing criminal investigations or prosecutions in violation of RCW 9A.72.090, 9A.72.100, 9A.72.110, 9A.72.120, 9A.72.130, 9A.76.070, or 9A.76.180; (v) Fraud in the purchase or sale of securities, as defined in RCW 21.20.010; (w) Promoting pornography, as defined in RCW 9.68.140; (x) Sexual exploitation of children, as defined in RCW 9.68A.040, 9.68A.050, and 9.68A.060; (y) Promoting prostitution, as defined in RCW 9A.88.070 and 9A.88.080; (z) Arson, as defined in RCW 9A.48.020 and 9A.48.030; (aa) Assault, as defined in RCW 9A.36.011 and 9A.36.021; (bb) Assault of a child, as defined in RCW 9A.36.120 and 9A.36.130; (cc) A pattern of equity skimming, as defined in RCW 61.34.020; (dd) Commercial telephone solicitation in violation of RCW 19.158.040(1); (ee) Trafficking in insurance claims, as defined in RCW 48.30A.015; (ff) Unlawful practice of law, as defined in RCW 2.48.180; (gg) Commercial bribery, as defined in RCW 9A.68.060; (hh) Health care false claims, as defined in RCW 48.80.030; (ii) Unlicensed practice of a profession or business, as defined in RCW 18.130.190(7); (jj) Improperly obtaining financial information, as defined in RCW 9.35.010; (kk) Identity theft, as defined in RCW 9.35.020; (ll) Unlawful shipment of cigarettes in violation of RCW 70.155.105(6) (a) or (b); (({- or -})) (mm) Unlawful shipment of cigarettes in violation of RCW 82.24.110(2){+ ; or (nn) A violation of chapter 9A.-- RCW (sections 1 through 4 of this act) +}. (5) "Dealer in property" means a person who buys and sells property as a business. (6) "Debtor" means a person to whom an extension of credit is made or a person who guarantees the repayment of an extension of credit or in any manner undertakes to indemnify the creditor against loss resulting from the failure of a person to whom an extension is made to repay the same. (7) "Documentary material" means any book, paper, document, writing, drawing, graph, chart, photograph, phonograph record, magnetic tape, computer printout, other data compilation from which information can be obtained or from which information can be translated into usable form, or other tangible item. (8) "Enterprise" includes any individual, sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, business trust, or other profit or nonprofit legal entity, and includes any union, association, or group of individuals associated in fact although not a legal entity, and both illicit and licit enterprises and governmental and nongovernmental entities. (9) "Extortionate extension of credit" means an extension of credit with respect to which it is the understanding of the creditor and the debtor at the time the extension is made that delay in making repayment or failure to make repayment could result in the use of violence or other criminal means to cause harm to the person, reputation, or property of any person. (10) "Extortionate means" means the use, or an express or implicit threat of use, of violence or other criminal means to cause harm to the person, reputation, or property of any person. (11) "Financial institution" means any bank, trust company, savings and loan association, savings bank, mutual savings bank, credit union, or loan company under the jurisdiction of the state or an agency of the United States. (12) "Pattern of criminal profiteering activity" means engaging in at least three acts of criminal profiteering, one of which occurred after July 1, 1985, and the last of which occurred within five years, excluding any period of imprisonment, after the commission of the earliest act of criminal profiteering. In order to constitute a pattern, the three acts must have the same or similar intent, results, accomplices, principals, victims, or methods of commission, or be otherwise interrelated by distinguishing characteristics including a nexus to the same enterprise, and must not be isolated events. However, in any civil proceedings brought pursuant to RCW 9A.82.100 by any person other than the attorney general or county prosecuting attorney in which one or more acts of fraud in the purchase or sale of securities are asserted as acts of criminal profiteering activity, it is a condition to civil liability under RCW 9A.82.100 that the defendant has been convicted in a criminal proceeding of fraud in the purchase or sale of securities under RCW 21.20.400 or under the laws of another state or of the United States requiring the same elements of proof, but such conviction need not relate to any act or acts asserted as acts of criminal profiteering activity in such civil action under RCW 9A.82.100. (13) "Real property" means any real property or interest in real property, including but not limited to a land sale contract, lease, or mortgage of real property. (14) "Records" means any book, paper, writing, record, computer program, or other material. (15) "Repayment of an extension of credit" means the repayment, satisfaction, or discharge in whole or in part of a debt or claim, acknowledged or disputed, valid or invalid, resulting from or in connection with that extension of credit. (16) "Stolen property" means property that has been obtained by theft, robbery, or extortion. (17) "To collect an extension of credit" means to induce in any way a person to make repayment thereof. (18) "To extend credit" means to make or renew a loan or to enter into an agreement, tacit or express, whereby the repayment or satisfaction of a debt or claim, whether acknowledged or disputed, valid or invalid, and however arising, may or shall be deferred. (19) "Traffic" means to sell, transfer, distribute, dispense, or otherwise dispose of stolen property to another person, or to buy, receive, possess, or obtain control of stolen property, with intent to sell, transfer, distribute, dispense, or otherwise dispose of the property to another person. (20)(a) "Trustee" means: (i) A person acting as a trustee under a trust established under Title 11 RCW in which the trustee holds legal or record title to real property; (ii) A person who holds legal or record title to real property in which another person has a beneficial interest; or (iii) A successor trustee to a person who is a trustee under (a)(i) or (ii) of this subsection. (b) "Trustee" does not mean a person appointed or acting as: (i) A personal representative under Title 11 RCW; (ii) A trustee of any testamentary trust; (iii) A trustee of any indenture of trust under which a bond is issued; or (iv) A trustee under a deed of trust. (21) "Unlawful debt" means any money or other thing of value constituting principal or interest of a debt that is legally unenforceable in the state in full or in part because the debt was incurred or contracted: (a) In violation of any one of the following: (i) Chapter 67.16 RCW relating to horse racing; (ii) Chapter 9.46 RCW relating to gambling; (b) In a gambling activity in violation of federal law; or (c) In connection with the business of lending money or a thing of value at a rate that is at least twice the permitted rate under the applicable state or federal law relating to usury.

Sec. 6. RCW 9A.82.090 and 2003 c 267 s 5 are each amended to read as follows: During the pendency of any criminal case charging a violation of RCW 9A.82.060 or 9A.82.080, (({- or -})) an offense defined in RCW 9A.40.100, {+ or an offense, including an anticipatory or completed offense, or a lawfully obtained and otherwise admissible confession to have completed an offense, that is defined in chapter 9A.-- RCW (sections 1 through 4 of this act), whether or not committed for financial gain, +} the superior court may, in addition to its other powers, issue an order pursuant to RCW 9A.82.100 (2) or (3). Upon conviction of a person for a violation of RCW 9A.82.060 or 9A.82.080, (({- or - })) an offense defined in RCW 9A.40.100, {+ or an offense, including an anticipatory or completed offense, or a lawfully obtained and otherwise admissible confession to have completed an offense, that is defined in chapter 9A.-- RCW (sections 1 through 4 of this act), whether or not committed for financial gain, +} the superior court may, in addition to its other powers of disposition, issue an order pursuant to RCW 9A.82.100.

Sec. 7. RCW 9A.82.100 and 2003 c 267 s 6 are each amended to read as follows: (1)(a) A person who sustains injury to his or her person, business, or property by an act of criminal profiteering that is part of a pattern of criminal profiteering activity, or by an offense defined in RCW 9A.40.100, {+ or an offense, including an anticipatory or completed offense, or a lawfully obtained and otherwise admissible confession to have completed an offense, that is defined in chapter 9A.-- RCW (sections 1 through 4 of this act), whether or not committed for financial gain, +} or by a violation of RCW 9A.82.060 or 9A.82.080 may file an action in superior court for the recovery of damages and the costs of the suit, including reasonable investigative and attorney's fees. (b) The attorney general or county prosecuting attorney may file an action: (i) On behalf of those persons injured or, respectively, on behalf of the state or county if the entity has sustained damages, or (ii) to prevent, restrain, or remedy a pattern of criminal profiteering activity, or an offense defined in RCW 9A.40.100, {+ or an offense, including an anticipatory or completed offense, or a lawfully obtained and otherwise admissible confession to have completed an offense, that is defined in chapter 9A.-- RCW (sections 1 through 4 of this act), whether or not committed for financial gain, +} or a violation of RCW 9A.82.060 or 9A.82.080. (c) An action for damages filed by or on behalf of an injured person, the state, or the county shall be for the recovery of damages and the costs of the suit, including reasonable investigative and attorney's fees. (d) In an action filed to prevent, restrain, or remedy a pattern of criminal profiteering activity, or an offense defined in RCW 9A.40.100, {+ or an offense, including an anticipatory or completed offense, or a lawfully obtained and otherwise admissible confession to have completed an offense, that is defined in chapter 9A.-- RCW (sections 1 through 4 of this act), whether or not committed for financial gain, +} or a violation of RCW 9A.82.060 or 9A.82.080, the court, upon proof of the violation, may impose a civil penalty not exceeding two hundred fifty thousand dollars, in addition to awarding the cost of the suit, including reasonable investigative and attorney's fees. (2) The superior court has jurisdiction to prevent, restrain, and remedy a pattern of criminal profiteering, or an offense defined in RCW 9A.40.100, {+ or an offense, including an anticipatory or completed offense, or a lawfully obtained and otherwise admissible confession to have completed an offense, that is defined in chapter 9A.-- RCW (sections 1 through 4 of this act), whether or not committed for financial gain, +} or a violation of RCW 9A.82.060 or 9A.82.080 after making provision for the rights of all innocent persons affected by the violation and after hearing or trial, as appropriate, by issuing appropriate orders. (3) Prior to a determination of liability, orders issued under subsection (2) of this section may include, but are not limited to, entering restraining orders or prohibitions or taking such other actions, including the acceptance of satisfactory performance bonds, in connection with any property or other interest subject to damages, forfeiture, or other restraints pursuant to this section as the court deems proper. The orders may also include attachment, receivership, or injunctive relief in regard to personal or real property pursuant to Title 7 RCW. In shaping the reach or scope of receivership, attachment, or injunctive relief, the superior court shall provide for the protection of bona fide interests in property, including community property, of persons who were not involved in the violation of this chapter, except to the extent that such interests or property were acquired or used in such a way as to be subject to forfeiture under RCW 9A.82.100(4)(f). (4) Following a determination of liability, orders may include, but are not limited to: (a) Ordering any person to divest himself or herself of any interest, direct or indirect, in any enterprise. (b) Imposing reasonable restrictions on the future activities or investments of any person, including prohibiting any person from engaging in the same type of endeavor as the enterprise engaged in, the activities of which affect the laws of this state, to the extent the Constitutions of the United States and this state permit. (c) Ordering dissolution or reorganization of any enterprise. (d) Ordering the payment of actual damages sustained to those persons injured by a violation of RCW 9A.82.060 or 9A.82.080, or an offense defined in RCW 9A.40.100, {+ or an offense, including an anticipatory or completed offense, or a lawfully obtained and otherwise admissible confession to have completed an offense, that is defined in chapter 9A.-- RCW (sections 1 through 4 of this act), whether or not committed for financial gain, +} or an act of criminal profiteering that is part of a pattern of criminal profiteering, and in the court's discretion, increasing the payment to an amount not exceeding three times the actual damages sustained. (e) Ordering the payment of all costs and expenses of the prosecution and investigation of a pattern of criminal profiteering, or an offense defined in RCW 9A.40.100, {+ or an offense, including an anticipatory or completed offense, or a lawfully obtained and otherwise admissible confession to have completed an offense, that is defined in chapter 9A.-- RCW (sections 1 through 4 of this act), whether or not committed for financial gain, +} activity or a violation of RCW 9A.82.060 or 9A.82.080, civil and criminal, incurred by the state or county, including any costs of defense provided at public expense, as appropriate to the state general fund or the antiprofiteering revolving fund of the county. (f) Ordering forfeiture first as restitution to any person damaged by an act of criminal profiteering that is part of a pattern of criminal profiteering, or by an offense defined in RCW 9A.40.100, {+ or an offense, including an anticipatory or completed offense, or a lawfully obtained and otherwise admissible confession to have completed an offense, that is defined in chapter 9A.-- RCW (sections 1 through 4 of this act), whether or not committed for financial gain, +} then to the state general fund or antiprofiteering revolving fund of the county, as appropriate, to the extent not already ordered to be paid in other damages, of the following: (i) Any property or other interest acquired or maintained in violation of RCW 9A.82.060 or 9A.82.080 to the extent of the investment of funds, and any appreciation or income attributable to the investment, from a violation of RCW 9A.82.060 or 9A.82.080. (ii) Any property, contractual right, or claim against property used to influence any enterprise that a person has established, operated, controlled, conducted, or participated in the conduct of, in violation of RCW 9A.82.060 or 9A.82.080. (iii) All proceeds traceable to or derived from an offense included in the pattern of criminal profiteering activity, or an offense defined in RCW 9A.40.100, {+ or an offense, including an anticipatory or completed offense, or a lawfully obtained and otherwise admissible confession to have completed an offense, that is defined in chapter 9A.-- RCW (sections 1 through 4 of this act), whether or not committed for financial gain, +} and all moneys, negotiable instruments, securities, and other things of value significantly used or intended to be used significantly to facilitate commission of the offense. (g) Ordering payment to the state general fund or antiprofiteering revolving fund of the county, as appropriate, of an amount equal to the gain a person has acquired or maintained through an offense included in the definition of criminal profiteering. (5) In addition to or in lieu of an action under this section, the attorney general or county prosecuting attorney may file an action for forfeiture to the state general fund or antiprofiteering revolving fund of the county, as appropriate, to the extent not already ordered paid pursuant to this section, of the following: (a) Any interest acquired or maintained by a person in violation of RCW 9A.82.060 or 9A.82.080 to the extent of the investment of funds obtained from a violation of RCW 9A.82.060 or 9A.82.080 and any appreciation or income attributable to the investment. (b) Any property, contractual right, or claim against property used to influence any enterprise that a person has established, operated, controlled, conducted, or participated in the conduct of, in violation of RCW 9A.82.060 or 9A.82.080. (c) All proceeds traceable to or derived from an offense included in the pattern of criminal profiteering activity, or an offense defined in RCW 9A.40.100, {+ or an offense, including an anticipatory or completed offense, or a lawfully obtained and otherwise admissible confession to have completed an offense, that is defined in chapter 9A.-- RCW (sections 1 through 4 of this act), whether or not committed for financial gain, +} and all moneys, negotiable instruments, securities, and other things of value significantly used or intended to be used significantly to facilitate the commission of the offense. (6) A defendant convicted in any criminal proceeding is precluded in any civil proceeding from denying the essential allegations of the criminal offense proven in the criminal trial in which the defendant was convicted. For the purposes of this subsection, a conviction shall be deemed to have occurred upon a verdict, finding, or plea of guilty, notwithstanding the fact that appellate review of the conviction and sentence has been or may be sought. If a subsequent reversal of the conviction occurs, any judgment that was based upon that conviction may be reopened upon motion of the defendant. (7) The initiation of civil proceedings under this section shall be commenced within three years after discovery of the pattern of criminal profiteering activity or after the pattern should reasonably have been discovered or, in the case of an offense that is defined in RCW 9A.40.100 {+ or chapter 9A.-- RCW (sections 1 through 4 of this act) +}, within three years after the final disposition of any criminal charges relating to the offense, whichever is later. (8) The attorney general or county prosecuting attorney may, in a civil action brought pursuant to this section, file with the clerk of the superior court a certificate stating that the case is of special public importance. A copy of that certificate shall be furnished immediately by the clerk to the presiding chief judge of the superior court in which the action is pending and, upon receipt of the copy, the judge shall immediately designate a judge to hear and determine the action. The judge so designated shall promptly assign the action for hearing, participate in the hearings and determination, and cause the action to be expedited. (9) The standard of proof in actions brought pursuant to this section is the preponderance of the evidence test. (10) A person other than the attorney general or county prosecuting attorney who files an action under this section shall serve notice and one copy of the pleading on the attorney general within thirty days after the action is filed with the superior court. The notice shall identify the action, the person, and the person's attorney. Service of the notice does not limit or otherwise affect the right of the state to maintain an action under this section or intervene in a pending action nor does it authorize the person to name the state or the attorney general as a party to the action. (11) Except in cases filed by a county prosecuting attorney, the attorney general may, upon timely application, intervene in any civil action or proceeding brought under this section if the attorney general certifies that in the attorney general's opinion the action is of special public importance. Upon intervention, the attorney general may assert any available claim and is entitled to the same relief as if the attorney general had instituted a separate action. (12) In addition to the attorney general's right to intervene as a party in any action under this section, the attorney general may appear as amicus curiae in any proceeding in which a claim under this section has been asserted or in which a court is interpreting RCW 9A.82.010, 9A.82.080, 9A.82.090, 9A.82.110, or 9A.82.120, or this section. (13) A private civil action under this section does not limit any other civil or criminal action under this chapter or any other provision. Private civil remedies provided under this section are supplemental and not mutually exclusive. (14) Upon motion by the defendant, the court may authorize the sale or transfer of assets subject to an order or lien authorized by this chapter for the purpose of paying actual attorney's fees and costs of defense. The motion shall specify the assets for which sale or transfer is sought and shall be accompanied by the defendant's sworn statement that the defendant has no other assets available for such purposes. No order authorizing such sale or transfer may be entered unless the court finds that the assets involved are not subject to possible forfeiture under RCW 9A.82.100(4)(f). Prior to disposition of the motion, the court shall notify the state of the assets sought to be sold or transferred and shall hear argument on the issue of whether the assets are subject to forfeiture under RCW 9A.82.100(4)(f). Such a motion may be made from time to time and shall be heard by the court on an expedited basis. (15) In an action brought under subsection (1)(a) and (b)(i) of this section, either party has the right to a jury trial.

Sec. 8. RCW 9A.82.120 and 2003 c 267 s 7 are each amended to read as follows: (1) The state, upon filing a criminal action under RCW 9A.82.060 or 9A.82.080 or for an offense defined in RCW 9A.40.100, {+ or an offense, including an anticipatory or completed offense, or a lawfully obtained and otherwise admissible confession to have completed an offense, that is defined in chapter 9A.-- RCW (sections 1 through 4 of this act), whether or not committed for financial gain, +} or a civil action under RCW 9A.82.100, may file in accordance with this section a criminal profiteering lien. A filing fee or other charge is not required for filing a criminal profiteering lien. (2) A criminal profiteering lien shall be signed by the attorney general or the county prosecuting attorney representing the state in the action and shall set forth the following information: (a) The name of the defendant whose property or other interests are to be subject to the lien; (b) In the discretion of the attorney general or county prosecuting attorney filing the lien, any aliases or fictitious names of the defendant named in the lien; (c) If known to the attorney general or county prosecuting attorney filing the lien, the present residence or principal place of business of the person named in the lien; (d) A reference to the proceeding pursuant to which the lien is filed, including the name of the court, the title of the action, and the court's file number for the proceeding; (e) The name and address of the attorney representing the state in the proceeding pursuant to which the lien is filed; (f) A statement that the notice is being filed pursuant to this section; (g) The amount that the state claims in the action or, with respect to property or other interests that the state has requested forfeiture to the state or county, a description of the property or interests sought to be paid or forfeited; (h) If known to the attorney general or county prosecuting attorney filing the lien, a description of property that is subject to forfeiture to the state or property in which the defendant has an interest that is available to satisfy a judgment entered in favor of the state; and (i) Such other information as the attorney general or county prosecuting attorney filing the lien deems appropriate. (3) The attorney general or the county prosecuting attorney filing the lien may amend a lien filed under this section at any time by filing an amended criminal profiteering lien in accordance with this section that identifies the prior lien amended. (4) The attorney general or the county prosecuting attorney filing the lien shall, as soon as practical after filing a criminal profiteering lien, furnish to any person named in the lien a notice of the filing of the lien. Failure to furnish notice under this subsection does not invalidate or otherwise affect a criminal profiteering lien filed in accordance with this section. (5)(a) A criminal profiteering lien is perfected against interests in personal property in the same manner as a security interest in like property pursuant to RCW 62A.9A-301 through 62A.9A-316 or as otherwise required to perfect a security interest in like property under applicable law. In the case of perfection by filing, the state shall file, in lieu of a financing statement in the form prescribed by RCW 62A.9A-502, a notice of lien in substantially the following form:

NOTICE OF LIEN Pursuant to RCW 9A.82.120, the state of Washington claims a criminal profiteering lien on all real and personal property of: Name: . . . . . . . . Address: State of Washington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . By (authorized signature) On receipt of such a notice from the state, a filing officer shall, without payment of filing fee, file and index the notice as if it were a financing statement naming the state as secured party and the defendant as debtor. (b) A criminal profiteering lien is perfected against interests in real property by filing the lien in the office where a mortgage on the real estate would be filed or recorded. The filing officer shall file and index the criminal profiteering lien, without payment of a filing fee, in the same manner as a mortgage. (6) The filing of a criminal profiteering lien in accordance with this section creates a lien in favor of the state in: (a) Any interest of the defendant, in real property situated in the county in which the lien is filed, then maintained, or thereafter acquired in the name of the defendant identified in the lien; (b) Any interest of the defendant, in personal property situated in this state, then maintained or thereafter acquired in the name of the defendant identified in the lien; and (c) Any property identified in the lien to the extent of the defendant's interest therein. (7) The lien created in favor of the state in accordance with this section, when filed or otherwise perfected as provided in subsection (5) of this section, has, with respect to any of the property described in subsection (6) of this section, the same priority determined pursuant to the laws of this state as a mortgage or security interest given for value (but not a purchase money security interest) and perfected in the same manner with respect to such property; except that any lien perfected pursuant to Title 60 RCW by any person who, in the ordinary course of his or her business, furnishes labor, services, or materials, or rents, leases, or otherwise supplies equipment, without knowledge of the criminal profiteering lien, is superior to the criminal profiteering lien. (8) Upon entry of judgment in favor of the state, the state may proceed to execute thereon as in the case of any other judgment, except that in order to preserve the state's lien priority as provided in this section the state shall, in addition to such other notice as is required by law, give at least thirty days' notice of the execution to any person possessing at the time the notice is given, an interest recorded subsequent to the date the state's lien was perfected. (9) Upon the entry of a final judgment in favor of the state providing for forfeiture of property to the state, the title of the state to the property: (a) In the case of real property or a beneficial interest in real property, relates back to the date of filing the criminal profiteering lien or, if no criminal profiteering lien is filed, then to the date of recording of the final judgment or the abstract thereof; or (b) In the case of personal property or a beneficial interest in personal property, relates back to the date the personal property was seized by the state, or the date of filing of a criminal profiteering lien in accordance with this section, whichever is earlier, but if the property was not seized and no criminal profiteering lien was filed then to the date the final judgment was filed with the department of licensing and, if the personal property is an aircraft, with the federal aviation administration. (10) This section does not limit the right of the state to obtain any order or injunction, receivership, writ, attachment, garnishment, or other remedy authorized under RCW 9A.82.100 or appropriate to protect the interests of the state or available under other applicable law. (11) In a civil or criminal action under this chapter, the superior court shall provide for the protection of bona fide interests in property, including community property, subject to liens of persons who were not involved in the violation of this chapter, except to the extent that such interests or property were acquired or used in such a way as to be subject to forfeiture pursuant to RCW 9A.82.100(4)(f).

Sec. 9. RCW 9.94A.515 and 2003 c 335 s 5, 2003 c 283 s 33, 2003 c 267 s 3, 2003 c 250 s 14, 2003 c 119 s 8, 2003 c 53 s 56, and 2003 c 52 s 4 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:

TABLE 2 CRIMES INCLUDED WITHIN EACH SERIOUSNESS LEVEL XVI Aggravated Murder 1 (RCW 10.95.020) XV Homicide by abuse (RCW 9A.32.055) Malicious explosion 1 (RCW 70.74.280(1)) Murder 1 (RCW 9A.32.030) XIV Murder 2 (RCW 9A.32.050) Trafficking 1 (RCW 9A.40.100(1)) XIII Malicious explosion 2 (RCW 70.74.280(2)) Malicious placement of an explosive 1 (RCW 70.74.270(1)) XII Assault 1 (RCW 9A.36.011) Assault of a Child 1 (RCW 9A.36.120) Malicious placement of an imitation device 1 (RCW 70.74.272(1)(a)) Rape 1 (RCW 9A.44.040) Rape of a Child 1 (RCW 9A.44.073) Trafficking 2 (RCW 9A.40.100(2)) XI Manslaughter 1 (RCW 9A.32.060) Rape 2 (RCW 9A.44.050) Rape of a Child 2 (RCW 9A.44.076) X Child Molestation 1 (RCW 9A.44.083) Indecent Liberties (with forcible compulsion) (RCW 9A.44.100(1)(a)) Kidnapping 1 (RCW 9A.40.020) Leading Organized Crime (RCW 9A.82.060(1)(a)) Malicious explosion 3 (RCW 70.74.280(3)) Sexually Violent Predator Escape (RCW 9A.76.115) IX Assault of a Child 2 (RCW 9A.36.130) Explosive devices prohibited (RCW 70.74.180) Hit and Run--Death (RCW 46.52.020(4)(a)) Homicide by Watercraft, by being under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug (RCW 79A.60.050) Inciting Criminal Profiteering (RCW 9A.82.060(1)(b)) Malicious placement of an explosive 2 (RCW 70.74.270(2)) Robbery 1 (RCW 9A.56.200) Sexual Exploitation (RCW 9.68A.040) Vehicular Homicide, by being under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug (RCW 46.61.520) VIII Arson 1 (RCW 9A.48.020) Homicide by Watercraft, by the operation of any vessel in a reckless manner (RCW 79A.60.050) Manslaughter 2 (RCW 9A.32.070) Promoting Prostitution 1 (RCW 9A.88.070) Theft of Ammonia (RCW 69.55.010) Vehicular Homicide, by the operation of any vehicle in a reckless manner (RCW 46.61.520) VII Burglary 1 (RCW 9A.52.020) Child Molestation 2 (RCW 9A.44.086) Civil Disorder Training (RCW 9A.48.120) Dealing in depictions of minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct (RCW 9.68A.050) Drive-by Shooting (RCW 9A.36.045) Homicide by Watercraft, by disregard for the safety of others (RCW 79A.60.050) Indecent Liberties (without forcible compulsion) (RCW 9A.44.100(1) (b) and (c)) Introducing Contraband 1 (RCW 9A.76.140) Malicious placement of an explosive 3 (RCW 70.74.270(3)) Sending, bringing into state depictions of minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct (RCW 9.68A.060) Unlawful Possession of a Firearm in the first degree (RCW 9.41.040(1)) Use of a Machine Gun in Commission of a Felony (RCW 9.41.225) Vehicular Homicide, by disregard for the safety of others (RCW 46.61.520) VI {+ Animal or Ecological Terrorism, Resulting in Bodily Harm (section 3(3) of this act) +} Bail Jumping with Murder 1 (RCW 9A.76.170(3)(a)) Bribery (RCW 9A.68.010) Incest 1 (RCW 9A.64.020(1)) Intimidating a Judge (RCW 9A.72.160) Intimidating a Juror/Witness (RCW 9A.72.110, 9A.72.130) Malicious placement of an imitation device 2 (RCW 70.74.272(1)(b)) Rape of a Child 3 (RCW 9A.44.079) Theft of a Firearm (RCW 9A.56.300) Unlawful Storage of Ammonia (RCW 69.55.020) V Abandonment of dependent person 1 (RCW 9A.42.060) Advancing money or property for extortionate extension of credit (RCW 9A.82.030) Bail Jumping with class A Felony (RCW 9A.76.170(3)(b)) Child Molestation 3 (RCW 9A.44.089) Criminal Mistreatment 1 (RCW 9A.42.020) Custodial Sexual Misconduct 1 (RCW 9A.44.160) Domestic Violence Court Order Violation (RCW 10.99.040, 10.99.050, 26.09.300, 26.10.220, 26.26.138, 26.50.110, 26.52.070, or 74.34.145) Extortion 1 (RCW 9A.56.120) Extortionate Extension of Credit (RCW 9A.82.020) Extortionate Means to Collect Extensions of Credit (RCW 9A.82.040) Incest 2 (RCW 9A.64.020(2)) Kidnapping 2 (RCW 9A.40.030) Perjury 1 (RCW 9A.72.020) Persistent prison misbehavior (RCW 9.94.070) Possession of a Stolen Firearm (RCW 9A.56.310) Rape 3 (RCW 9A.44.060) Rendering Criminal Assistance 1 (RCW 9A.76.070) Sexual Misconduct with a Minor 1 (RCW 9A.44.093) Sexually Violating Human Remains (RCW 9A.44.105) Stalking (RCW 9A.46.110) Taking Motor Vehicle Without Permission 1 (RCW 9A.56.070) IV Arson 2 (RCW 9A.48.030) Assault 2 (RCW 9A.36.021) Assault by Watercraft (RCW 79A.60.060) Bribing a Witness/Bribe Received by Witness (RCW 9A.72.090, 9A.72.100) Cheating 1 (RCW 9.46.1961) Commercial Bribery (RCW 9A.68.060) Counterfeiting (RCW 9.16.035(4)) Endangerment with a Controlled Substance (RCW 9A.42.100) Escape 1 (RCW 9A.76.110) Hit and Run--Injury (RCW 46.52.020(4)(b)) Hit and Run with Vessel--Injury Accident (RCW 79A.60.200(3)) Identity Theft 1 (RCW 9.35.020(2)) Indecent Exposure to Person Under Age Fourteen (subsequent sex offense) (RCW 9A.88.010) Influencing Outcome of Sporting Event (RCW 9A.82.070) Malicious Harassment (RCW 9A.36.080) Residential Burglary (RCW 9A.52.025) Robbery 2 (RCW 9A.56.210) Theft of Livestock 1 (RCW 9A.56.080) Threats to Bomb (RCW 9.61.160) Trafficking in Stolen Property 1 (RCW 9A.82.050) Unlawful factoring of a credit card or payment card transaction (RCW 9A.56.290(4)(b)) Unlawful transaction of health coverage as a health care service contractor (RCW 48.44.016(3)) Unlawful transaction of health coverage as a health maintenance organization (RCW 48.46.033(3)) Unlawful transaction of insurance business (RCW 48.15.023(3)) Unlicensed practice as an insurance professional (RCW 48.17.063(3)) Use of Proceeds of Criminal Profiteering (RCW 9A.82.080 (1) and (2)) Vehicular Assault, by being under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug, or by the operation or driving of a vehicle in a reckless manner (RCW 46.61.522) Willful Failure to Return from Furlough (RCW 72.66.060) III Abandonment of dependent person 2 (RCW 9A.42.070) Assault 3 (RCW 9A.36.031) Assault of a Child 3 (RCW 9A.36.140) Bail Jumping with class B or C Felony (RCW 9A.76.170(3)(c)) Burglary 2 (RCW 9A.52.030) Communication with a Minor for Immoral Purposes (RCW 9.68A.090) Criminal Gang Intimidation (RCW 9A.46.120) Criminal Mistreatment 2 (RCW 9A.42.030) Custodial Assault (RCW 9A.36.100) Escape 2 (RCW 9A.76.120) Extortion 2 (RCW 9A.56.130) Harassment (RCW 9A.46.020) Intimidating a Public Servant (RCW 9A.76.180) Introducing Contraband 2 (RCW 9A.76.150) Malicious Injury to Railroad Property (RCW 81.60.070) Patronizing a Juvenile Prostitute (RCW 9.68A.100) Perjury 2 (RCW 9A.72.030) Possession of Incendiary Device (RCW 9.40.120) Possession of Machine Gun or Short- Barreled Shotgun or Rifle (RCW 9.41.190) Promoting Prostitution 2 (RCW 9A.88.080) Securities Act violation (RCW 21.20.400) Tampering with a Witness (RCW 9A.72.120) Telephone Harassment (subsequent conviction or threat of death) (RCW 9.61.230(2)) Theft of Livestock 2 (RCW 9A.56.083) Trafficking in Stolen Property 2 (RCW 9A.82.055) Unlawful Imprisonment (RCW 9A.40.040) Unlawful possession of firearm in the second degree (RCW 9.41.040(2)) Vehicular Assault, by the operation or driving of a vehicle with disregard for the safety of others (RCW 46.61.522) Willful Failure to Return from Work Release (RCW 72.65.070) II Computer Trespass 1 (RCW 9A.52.110) Counterfeiting (RCW 9.16.035(3)) Escape from Community Custody (RCW 72.09.310) Health Care False Claims (RCW 48.80.030) Identity Theft 2 (RCW 9.35.020(3)) Improperly Obtaining Financial Information (RCW 9.35.010) Malicious Mischief 1 (RCW 9A.48.070) Possession of Stolen Property 1 (RCW 9A.56.150) Theft 1 (RCW 9A.56.030) Theft of Rental, Leased, or Lease- purchased Property (valued at one thousand five hundred dollars or more) (RCW 9A.56.096(5)(a)) Trafficking in Insurance Claims (RCW 48.30A.015) Unlawful factoring of a credit card or payment card transaction (RCW 9A.56.290(4)(a)) Unlawful Practice of Law (RCW 2.48.180) Unlicensed Practice of a Profession or Business (RCW 18.130.190(7)) I Attempting to Elude a Pursuing Police Vehicle (RCW 46.61.024) False Verification for Welfare (RCW 74.08.055) Forgery (RCW 9A.60.020) Fraudulent Creation or Revocation of a Mental Health Advance Directive (RCW 9A.60.060) Malicious Mischief 2 (RCW 9A.48.080) Mineral Trespass (RCW 78.44.330) Possession of Stolen Property 2 (RCW 9A.56.160) Reckless Burning 1 (RCW 9A.48.040) Taking Motor Vehicle Without Permission 2 (RCW 9A.56.075) Theft 2 (RCW 9A.56.040) Theft of Rental, Leased, or Lease- purchased Property (valued at two hundred fifty dollars or more but less than one thousand five hundred dollars) (RCW 9A.56.096(5)(b)) Transaction of insurance business beyond the scope of licensure (RCW 48.17.063(4)) Unlawful Issuance of Checks or Drafts (RCW 9A.56.060) Unlawful Possession of Fictitious Identification (RCW 9A.56.320) Unlawful Possession of Instruments of Financial Fraud (RCW 9A.56.320) Unlawful Possession of Payment Instruments (RCW 9A.56.320) Unlawful Possession of a Personal Identification Device (RCW 9A.56.320) Unlawful Production of Payment Instruments (RCW 9A.56.320) Unlawful Trafficking in Food Stamps (RCW 9.91.142) Unlawful Use of Food Stamps (RCW 9.91.144) Vehicle Prowl 1 (RCW 9A.52.095)

Sec. 10. RCW 9.94A.535 and 2003 c 267 s 4 are each amended to read as follows: The court may impose a sentence outside the standard sentence range for an offense if it finds, considering the purpose of this chapter, that there are substantial and compelling reasons justifying an exceptional sentence. Whenever a sentence outside the standard sentence range is imposed, the court shall set forth the reasons for its decision in written findings of fact and conclusions of law. A sentence outside the standard sentence range shall be a determinate sentence unless it is imposed on an offender sentenced under RCW 9.94A.712. An exceptional sentence imposed on an offender sentenced under RCW 9.94A.712 shall be to a minimum term set by the court and a maximum term equal to the statutory maximum sentence for the offense of conviction under chapter 9A.20 RCW. If the sentencing court finds that an exceptional sentence outside the standard sentence range should be imposed, the sentence is subject to review only as provided for in RCW 9.94A.585(4). A departure from the standards in RCW 9.94A.589 (1) and (2) governing whether sentences are to be served consecutively or concurrently is an exceptional sentence subject to the limitations in this section, and may be appealed by the offender or the state as set forth in RCW 9.94A.585 (2) through (6). The following are illustrative factors which the court may consider in the exercise of its discretion to impose an exceptional sentence. The following are illustrative only and are not intended to be exclusive reasons for exceptional sentences. (1) Mitigating Circumstances (a) To a significant degree, the victim was an initiator, willing participant, aggressor, or provoker of the incident. (b) Before detection, the defendant compensated, or made a good faith effort to compensate, the victim of the criminal conduct for any damage or injury sustained. (c) The defendant committed the crime under duress, coercion, threat, or compulsion insufficient to constitute a complete defense but which significantly affected his or her conduct. (d) The defendant, with no apparent predisposition to do so, was induced by others to participate in the crime. (e) The defendant's capacity to appreciate the wrongfulness of his or her conduct, or to conform his or her conduct to the requirements of the law, was significantly impaired. Voluntary use of drugs or alcohol is excluded. (f) The offense was principally accomplished by another person and the defendant manifested extreme caution or sincere concern for the safety or well- being of the victim. (g) The operation of the multiple offense policy of RCW 9.94A.589 results in a presumptive sentence that is clearly excessive in light of the purpose of this chapter, as expressed in RCW 9.94A.010. (h) The defendant or the defendant's children suffered a continuing pattern of physical or sexual abuse by the victim of the offense and the offense is a response to that abuse. (2) Aggravating Circumstances (a) The defendant's conduct during the commission of the current offense manifested deliberate cruelty to the victim. (b) The defendant knew or should have known that the victim of the current offense was particularly vulnerable or incapable of resistance due to extreme youth, advanced age, disability, or ill health. (c) The current offense was a violent offense, and the defendant knew that the victim of the current offense was pregnant. (d) The current offense was a major economic offense or series of offenses, so identified by a consideration of any of the following factors: (i) The current offense involved multiple victims or multiple incidents per victim; (ii) The current offense involved attempted or actual monetary loss substantially greater than typical for the offense; (iii) The current offense involved a high degree of sophistication or planning or occurred over a lengthy period of time; or (iv) The defendant used his or her position of trust, confidence, or fiduciary responsibility to facilitate the commission of the current offense. (e) The current offense was a major violation of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act, chapter 69.50 RCW (VUCSA), related to trafficking in controlled substances, which was more onerous than the typical offense of its statutory definition: The presence of ANY of the following may identify a current offense as a major VUCSA: (i) The current offense involved at least three separate transactions in which controlled substances were sold, transferred, or possessed with intent to do so; (ii) The current offense involved an attempted or actual sale or transfer of controlled substances in quantities substantially larger than for personal use; (iii) The current offense involved the manufacture of controlled substances for use by other parties; (iv) The circumstances of the current offense reveal the offender to have occupied a high position in the drug distribution hierarchy; (v) The current offense involved a high degree of sophistication or planning, occurred over a lengthy period of time, or involved a broad geographic area of disbursement; or (vi) The offender used his or her position or status to facilitate the commission of the current offense, including positions of trust, confidence or fiduciary responsibility (e.g., pharmacist, physician, or other medical professional). (f) The current offense included a finding of sexual motivation pursuant to RCW 9.94A.835. (g) The offense was part of an ongoing pattern of sexual abuse of the same victim under the age of eighteen years manifested by multiple incidents over a prolonged period of time. (h) The current offense involved domestic violence, as defined in RCW 10.99.020, and one or more of the following was present: (i) The offense was part of an ongoing pattern of psychological, physical, or sexual abuse of the victim manifested by multiple incidents over a prolonged period of time; (ii) The offense occurred within sight or sound of the victim's or the offender's minor children under the age of eighteen years; or (iii) The offender's conduct during the commission of the current offense manifested deliberate cruelty or intimidation of the victim. (i) The operation of the multiple offense policy of RCW 9.94A.589 results in a presumptive sentence that is clearly too lenient in light of the purpose of this chapter, as expressed in RCW 9.94A.010. (j) The defendant's prior unscored misdemeanor or prior unscored foreign criminal history results in a presumptive sentence that is clearly too lenient in light of the purpose of this chapter, as expressed in RCW 9.94A.010. (k) The offense resulted in the pregnancy of a child victim of rape. (l) The defendant knew that the victim of the current offense was a youth who was not residing with a legal custodian and the defendant established or promoted the relationship for the primary purpose of victimization. (m) The offense was committed with the intent to obstruct or impair human or animal health care or agricultural or forestry research or commercial production. (n) The current offense is trafficking in the first degree or trafficking in the second degree and any victim was a minor at the time of the offense. {+ (o) The offense was committed in violation of chapter 9A.-- RCW (sections 1 through 4 of this act) and resulted in the death of a human or the death or destruction of an animal. +}

{+ NEW SECTION. +} Sec. 11. Sections 1 through 4 of this act constitute a new chapter in Title 9A RCW.

{+ NEW SECTION. +} Sec. 12. This act takes effect July 1, 2004.

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Supporters Deliver Signatures for Bear Baiting Ban Initiative

On January 1, Citizens United Against Bear Baiting delivered more than the 33,500 signatures required to put a ban on bear baiting on the November 2004 Alaska ballot.

The proposed initiative would read,

“An act prohibiting the baiting or intentional feeding of bears.”

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Alaska:

Alaska Statutes Title 16 is amended to add a new Section 16.05.781, as follows:

16.05.781. Baiting or intentional feeding of bears prohibited.

(a) A person may not bait or intentionally feed a bear for the purpose of hunting, photographing, or viewing.

(b) Under this section, to “bait” or “intentionally feed” means to intentionally give, deposit, distribute, discard, scatter or otherwise expose any attractant or edible material in order to attract or entice a bear to enter into, or to remain in, a location or area.

(c) A person who violates this section is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

Currently Alaska permits the baiting of black bears but not of brown bears. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game argues that baiting of black bears is a legitimate wildlife management tools, especially in area where it is otherwise difficult to hunt bears due to thick vegetation. According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game about 500 of the 2,500 bears killed annually by hunters in Alaska are baited.

Arkansas, Idaho, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Utah, Wisconsin and Wyoming also allow bear baiting. Ballot initiatives have led to the banning of bear baiting in Colorado, Oregon and Washington state.

Opponents of bear baiting argue that it is unsportsmanlike, unsafe (since it might encourage bears to seek out food left behind by people), and inhumane. Proponents argue that baiting is a long standing tradition and is safer than other methods of hunting because hunters have a clear shot at the animals they are hunting.

Major national hunting and anti-hunting groups are likely to work to influence the outcome of the voting. The Humane Society of the United States’ Wayne Pacelle told the Anchorage Daily News,

We will certainly encourage our 13,000 Alaska members to become involved and vote yes on the initiative.

Pacelle added that HSUS would encourage “indigenous” fund raising to pass the initiative.

Meanwhile, Rob Sexton of the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance told the Anchorage Daily News, “We’ll call on sportsmen everywhere to help support the vote-no effort” and added that the effort to fight the ballot initiative would likely cost several hundred thousands of dollars.

As far as the arguments go, I agree with the Sportsmen’s Alliance that whether or not bear baiting is allowed should depend on whether it is a sound wildlife management practice rather than on vague arguments about whether or not it is “unfair.” Craig Medred of the Anchorage Daily News did a nice job of pointing out the problems with the fairness argument in a column for that newspaper,

All of which brings us back to Alaska, where wildlife is nowhere near as bountiful as Outside, where fewer and fewer hunt for sport, and where the idea of fairness has been dragged a baffling distance from its origins and sensibilities.

Suddenly, people are arguing about what’s fair to individual wild animals — as if that somehow mattered.

Does someone out there truly believe a bear cares whether it gets shot at a bait station or splashing in a salmon stream or frolicking in a berry patch, or that a wolf cares that death comes in the form of a single bullet from a quiet marksman hidden 300 yards away or a hail of bullets from an airplane or the noose of a snare?

The means of death are irrelevant to these animals. They want only to survive, but they can’t.

Sooner or later, they’re destined to die, as are we, because the cycle of life is built on death. It’s inherently unfair and random. One calf gets picked to become a breeding bull and spend its life in pampered enjoyment. Another gets earmarked to be fattened up for shipment to the slaughterhouse.

That’s the way it has been since the days of the dinosaurs. The animals with fangs and claws and tools kill and consume the plant eaters.

Sources:

Bear baiting ban signatures delivered. MARY PEMBERTON
Associated Press, January 9, 2004.

Bear baiting opponents deliver signatures aplenty. Joel Gay, Anchorage Daily News, January 9, 2004.

Who ever said hunting was supposed to be fair? Craig Medred, Anchorage Daily News, January 25, 2004.

HSUS Wants End to Research Involving Chimpanzees By 2005

The Humane Society of the United States’ Kathleen Conlee wrote an account of a session at the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science conference about chimpanzee research in which she articulates the HSUS’s desire for a ban on chimpanzee research in the United States by 2005.

Conlee writes that the presentation by a National Institute of Health official noted the importance of chimpanzee research in the past and the likely importance of research utilizing the animals in the future. According to Conlee,

When the session came to an end, I had one particularly burning question to ask the speaker: “What is NIH doing, if anything, to address the fact that various countries have decided to ban the use of chimpanzees in research?”

I wasn’t expecting the response that I got—at least not in public. The official said he could foresee a time in the future—he couldn’t say when—when chimpanzees are no longer used in research in the United States. He then pointed out that public opinion has had an influence on this issue.

Like the morning fog that eventually lifts from Puget Sound, that sinking feeling from earlier in the day was gone. I felt there was hope that chimpanzee research in the U.S. will end—that the 1,300 chimpanzees currently used, held, bred or purchased for use in federally supported or conducted research might one day soon have a better life. I also felt that The HSUS must peek its head inside the door that was cracked opened that day in Seattle.

Conlee continues that HSUS is now firmly behind that effort because it views chimpanzee research as inherently inhumane,

Documentaries and accounts of chimpanzee families in the wild have shown us their complex natures: We’ve seen their various emotions, such as anger, joy and jealousy; their use of tools; and how they can be deceptive to obtain something they want. I worked with chimpanzees at a sanctuary and observed such behaviors firsthand.

Now consider those same complex chimpanzees living alone in a small laboratory cage (5x5x7 feet) with little to do, nothing to look forward to, and occasionally suffering from the research they have been subjected to. The bright eyes of the wild chimpanzee are nowhere to be found.

The lucky ones have social partners and live in larger enclosures, but they still live behind bars and are used as subjects for research. We have to ask ourselves, “Is the price of chimpanzee research too high?” The Humane Society of the United States argues that it is. That is why we are urging the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the parent agency of NIH, to create a plan to end chimpanzee research by 2005. We sent a letter to HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson (as well as two NIH officials) to that effect in November.

The NIH responded to HSUS’ letter by saying it had no plans to change its approach to non-human primate research.

Conlee argues that the elimination of research involving chimpanzees would have only limited affects on the progress of biomedical research because most such research is unnecessary and alternatives could likely be created for the rest,

Some argue that chimpanzees must be used in biomedical research in an attempt to cure human diseases. However, many of the research areas for which chimpanzees are used also involve the use of other experimental approaches and models. Therefore, phasing out chimpanzee experiments would have limited impact on the pace of biomedical progress.

The HSUS also argues that alternatives to chimpanzee use haven’t been adequately explored. Why isn’t funding dedicated to finding these alternatives? Scientific results from any type of research conducted on apes are compromised as a result of the animals’ captivity-related suffering. Development of alternatives should be a priority; the chimpanzees, however, cannot wait for this—they must be retired from research as soon as possible, and we believe 2005 is a realistic time period.

Sources:

Conference Call: Remark Leads HSUS to Publicly Call for Ban on Chimp Research. Kathleen Conlee, Humane Society of the United States, January 2004.

The HSUS Calls on Federal Government to End Use of Chimpanzees in Biomedical Research. Press Release, Humane Society of the United States, December 11, 2003.

The Baby Dragon

A number of people have sent me links to pictures of the newly discovered baby dragon. There’s some speculation this might have been an attempted hoax by 19th century German scientists trying to pull the legs of British researchers.

If that’s true, that’s really going to piss of Rob Bowman. Despite spending $115 million on his-lame assed movie, he still gets outdone by 19th century Germans who produce a dragon that looks far more realistic than anything that appeared in “Reign of Fire” (and, somehow, the plot and dialogue was several order of magnitude worse than the special effects — one of the worst big budget movies ever).