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Testimony about anti-gang bill 'compelling,' Ross
says
Leader on public safety committee pleased to hear
Clements legislation
Rep. Charles Ross heard the concerns at his 14th District town
hall meetings Saturday, and today the House committee on public safety
heard them too: criminal gang activity is on the rise again.
Ross and other committee
members listened to public testimony about
Senate Bill 5987, which would provide law enforcement and
prosecutors with new tools to target and combat gang activity.
Introduced by 14th District
Sen. Jim Clements, the measure is the Senate counterpart to
House
Bill 2224, which Ross co-sponsored.
"The House bill I signed onto had
gone nowhere even though it had bipartisan sponsorship, so today's
hearing on Senator Clements' bill is the first action the House has
taken this session regarding the growing problems related to criminal
gangs," said Ross, R-Naches. He is assistant Republican leader of the
House Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Committee.
"We heard some very compelling
testimony in committee. I hope we follow the Senate’s example and refer
this bill for a vote by the entire House," Ross said. "The timing is
good, because I heard a lot of complaints at our town hall meetings in
Naches and Yakima this past weekend about criminal gangs. Particularly
the gang graffiti that is getting worse. 'Tagging' damages more than
than a wall or a sign, it hurts our neighborhoods and communities."
Two of the 20-plus public safety bills
Ross has introduced or co-sponsored this session have been passed by the
House and are awaiting action in the Senate.
House Bill 1001, which would increase penalties for auto theft, is
scheduled for a public hearing next week.
House Bill 1030, which would increase penalties for eluding a police
officer, has yet to be scheduled for a hearing.
"Senator Clements' anti-gang
legislation, along with the auto theft and eluding bills, would go great
distances in making our communities safer places to live. That's my top
priority this legislative session," Ross said. # # #
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