Form revised May 26, 2009

FISCAL NOTE FOR NON-CAPITAL PROJECTS

Department:	Contact Person/Phone:	DOF Analyst/Phone:
Law – Public & Community Safety	Richard Greene 684-8538

Legislation Title: AN ORDINANCE relating to the City’s criminal code; amending and adding various sections and subsections in Title 12A of the Seattle Municipal Code to conform with changes in state law, to clarify the elements of the crimes of Prostitution and Patronizing a Prostitute and to define the types of weapons proscribed by the crimes of Unlawful Use of Weapons and Weapons in Public Places.

· Summary of the Legislation:  Amends the City’s criminal code to conform with changes in the corresponding state criminal statutes made by recent sessions of the Legislature, clarifies the elements of the crimes of Prostitution and Patronizing a Prostitute and defines the types of weapons proscribed by the crimes of Unlawful Use of Weapons and Weapons in Public Places.

· Background: (Include brief description of the purpose and context of legislation and include record of previous legislation and funding history, if applicable):  Many provisions of Seattle’s criminal code are identical to provisions of the state criminal statutes.  When the Legislature amends those statutes, our criminal code usually should be amended to ensure uniformity.  This ordinance changes provisions of our criminal code to conform with changes made to the corresponding state criminal statutes by recent sessions of the Legislature.  This ordinance also clarifies that no mental state element is required for the crimes of Prostitution or Patronizing a Prostitute, which is consistent with state law.  This ordinance also defines “chako stick,” “metal knuckles” and “throwing star,” the sale, manufacture or possession of which is prohibited by the crime of Unlawful Use of Weapons.  This ordinance also defines “air gun,” the possession or shooting of which is prohibited by the crime of Weapons in Public Places.  

· Please check one of the following:

__X__ This legislation does not have any financial implications.  (Stop here and delete the remainder of this document prior to saving and printing.)