OLYMPIA…Frustrated and disappointed that the Senate Judiciary Committee refused to give his Chelsea Harrison Act a hearing -- given the fact that a child died because his bill is not already law -- Sen. Don Benton, R-Vancouver, today held his own hearing on the floor of the Senate.

Benton proposed an amendment to a bill dealing with pleas for sex offenders. Benton told his colleagues he knew his amendment, the Chelsea Harrison Act, Senate Bill 6829, didn’t fit the bill but his ability to speak on the amendment would give the Chelsea Harrison Act the hearing it deserves.

“Because of a loophole, a tiny word difference in our “Three Strikes’ law, a three-time felony offender got out of jail and murdered a young girl,” Benton said. “My bill to fix this travesty didn’t even get a hearing, but it’s getting one right now. I promise you I will be back again next year with this bill and I want a hearing on this issue and I want to close this loophole so if you’re convicted of a felony in another state, you can’t escape our ‘Three Strikes’ law.”

Benton’s passionate plea resonated in the unusually quiet Senate chamber. After telling Chelsea’s tragic story, Sen. Benton withdrew his amendment.

“I know the amendment would have been ruled out of order, but I wanted a hearing for Chelsea’s family and I got one,” Benton said.

After Benton’s comments, several senators from both parties came to him and said he had a valid issue and committed to helping him next year.

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For more information contact Penny Drost at (360) 786-7522 or penny.drost@leg.wa.gov