House passes bill expanding definition of civil disorder training

OLYMPIA – With a 93 to 2 vote yesterday, the House of Representatives passed legislation adding property damage to the 2002 Anti-Civil Disorder Training bill.

The current law makes it illegal to instruct others in how to commit violent public disturbances intended to hurt people. However, there is a loophole in that it does not prohibit training in how to commit violent disturbances with the intent to destroy property.

Senate Bill 5868, sponsored by Sen. Adam Kline, D-Seattle, chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, expands the definition of "civil disorder" for purposes of civil disorder training by adding injury to property.

After the 2002 statute was originally passed, there was a drop off in the number of groups from other states crossing into Washington in order to conduct training in Washington. So the statute did what it was supposed to do. SB 5868 intends to drop those numbers even further.

“This bill simply closes the loophole existing in the 2002 law,” said Kline.

Under existing law, a person is guilty of civil disorder training (class B felony, seriousness level VII) if he or she: “teaches or demonstrates to any other person the use, application, or making of any device or technique capable of causing significant bodily injury or death to persons; and knows, has reason to know, or intends that the device or technique will be unlawfully employed or for use in, or in furtherance of, a civil disorder.”

SB 5868 unanimously passed the Senate on Feb. 12 and now moves to Governor Gregoire’s desk for her signature. The Governor has 10 days to sign the bill into law. The 2008 Session is scheduled to adjourn March 13.

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