Record No: CB 120645    Version: Council Bill No: CB 120645
Type: Ordinance (Ord) Status: Passed
Current Controlling Legislative Body City Clerk
On agenda: 9/19/2023
Ordinance No: Ord 126896
Title: AN ORDINANCE relating to controlled substances; adding the crimes of knowing possession of a controlled substance and use of a controlled substance in a public place; amending Section 12A.09.020 of the Seattle Municipal Code; and adding a new Section 3.28.141 to the Seattle Municipal Code.
Sponsors: Lisa Herbold, Andrew Lewis
Supporting documents: 1. Summary and Fiscal Note, 2. Central Staff memo, 3. Substitute Amendment 1, 4. Amendment 2, 5. Amendment 3, 6. Amendment 4, 7. Amendment 5, 8. Amendment 1 Version 2 (added; 9/12/23), 9. Amendment 6 (added; 9/12/23), 10. Amendment 7 (added; 9/12/23), 11. Proposed Amendment A, 12. Proposed Amendment B, 13. Proposed Amendment C, 14. Proposed Amendment D, 15. SOCR Memo, 16. Signed Ordinance 126896, 17. Affidavit of Publication
CITY OF SEATTLE
ORDINANCE __________________
COUNCIL BILL __________________
title
AN ORDINANCE relating to controlled substances; adding the crimes of knowing possession of a controlled substance and use of a controlled substance in a public place; amending Section 12A.09.020 of the Seattle Municipal Code; and adding a new Section 3.28.141 to the Seattle Municipal Code.
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WHEREAS, in 2021, the Washington State Supreme Court struck down Washington's criminal statute prohibiting possession of a controlled substance in the case of State v. Blake; and
WHEREAS, in State v. Blake, the Washington Supreme Court determined it was necessary for the State to require proof of knowing possession of a controlled substance to obtain a conviction; and
WHEREAS, in response to State v. Blake, the State Legislature passed ESB 5476, which it subsequently amended in May 2023 with 2E2SSB 5536; and
WHEREAS, prior to State v. Blake, drug possession was a Class C felony, and cases in Seattle were referred to the King County Prosecuting Attorney for review and a determination of whether to file criminal charges and were processed through the King County Superior Court system; and
WHEREAS, 2E2SSB 5536 reclassifies the knowing possession of a controlled substance, and the knowing use of a controlled substance in a public place, as gross misdemeanors; and
WHEREAS, Council Bill 120586, received by the City Clerk on May 17, 2023, aimed to adopt 2E2SSB 5536 into the Seattle Municipal Code, but was rejected by a 5 to 4 vote of the City Council on June 6, 2023; and
WHEREAS, the reclassification provisions took effect on July 1, 2023, and certain other provisions of the law will take effect on August 15, 2023, and January 1, 2025; and
WHEREAS, with the State's reclassification of these offenses to gross misdemeanors, it is necessary for The City of Seattle to adopt the State statute so that the Seattle City Attorney may receive and evaluate referrals submitted by Seattle police, and consid...

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