The potential placement of a less restrictive alternative (LRA) housing site in a residential Kennewick neighborhood has ignited community concern and calls for immediate legislative action, according to a news release from the Eighth Legislative District representatives.
It’s the same issue that brought controversy to Southwest Washington in 2023 as plans to locate offenders at a home near Tenino drew widespread condemnation locally, leading to the offenders not being placed there.
Under current state law, the Department of Social and Health Services and the courts have broad authority to site residences for sexually violent predators (SVPs). Eighth District Reps. April Connors, R-Kennewick, and Stephanie Barnard, R-Pasco, argue that the statutory criteria do not sufficiently account for neighborhood density, proximity to vulnerable populations or meaningful local law enforcement input.
As a home in Kennewick is being reviewed for potential use as housing for up to five SVPs, Connors and Barnard are advancing a legislative response with Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick. Their goal is to close what they describe as dangerous gaps in existing statutes that enable administrative convenience over the safety of Washington families, the release stated.
Connors' sponsored legislation is as follows:
• House Bill 2635 would enhance local supervision and state accountability by requiring that a SVPs’ supervising community corrections officers have a primary work locations within 50 miles of the SVPs residential placement.
• House Bill 2654 would increase the required safety buffer from 500 feet to half a mile between an LRA placement and child care facilities, schools and recreational facilities such as community pools.
• House Bill 2665 would require property purchasers to provide written notification to the county sheriff, local legislators and county officials if they intend to use a property as an LRA site after entering escrow but before the sale closes.
• House Bill 2696 would require the court to confirm that an LRA residence is owned and operated by the same individuals responsible for providing or monitoring the SVPs treatment.
"People are angry because they feel blindsided and forced to accept a proposed placement decision by the state without their consent," said Connors, who lives in Kennewick. "I'm so proud of our community for standing up and speaking out so boldly. Neighborhoods with children should not be treated as dumping grounds for dangerous individuals who have committed some of the most heinous crimes imaginable. This legislative package forces accountability, expands safety protections and gives local communities a real voice. We must put families and public safety ahead of bureaucracy."
While Connors' bills focus on physical boundaries, local supervision and ownership transparency, Barnard is advancing a parallel set of reforms to empower local authorities and tighten restrictions in family-dense areas, the release stated.
Barnard's sponsored legislation is as follows:
• House Bill 2687 would prohibit the state from placing an LRA at a site that abuts a residence with a minor in the household.
• House Bill 2693 would prohibit LRA placements in neighborhoods with high concentrations of children, defined as areas with fewer than three adults per child within a 500-foot radius.
• House Bill 2694 would prohibit LRA placements with a direct line of sight to schools, child care facilities or recreational facilities, while maintaining a minimum 500-foot distance.
• House Bill 2698 would mandate that courts allow the county prosecutor to make recommendations on the appropriateness of a site and consider those recommendations before approving any LRA placement.
"The state's current process is opaque and dismissive of the very real concerns of our families, often treating neighborhood safety as an afterthought," Barnard said. "These bills are designed to create hard, non-negotiable boundaries that DSHS cannot ignore to satisfy a contract. We are fighting to restore authority to our local communities and ensure the placement of sexually violent predators is subject to the highest level of scrutiny, respecting the sanctity of our homes and the safety of our most vulnerable citizens."
All eight bills have been referred to the House Community Safety Committee, but none are currently scheduled to receive a public hearing. Connors and Barnard urge residents to continue making their voices heard by contacting committee members, according to the release.
