CERTIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT

                        HOUSE BILL 1133

                    Chapter 9, Laws of 1994

                        53rd Legislature

                      1994 Regular Session

   UNLAWFUL CONVERSION AND LEAVING WITHOUT PAYING‑-ASSIGNMENT

                      OF CLAIMS AUTHORIZED

                    EFFECTIVE DATE:  6/9/94

Passed by the House January 19, 1994   Yeas 94   Nays 0 BRIAN EBERSOLE Speaker of the       House of Representatives Passed by the Senate March 1, 1994   Yeas 49   Nays 0

CERTIFICATE I, Marilyn Showalter, Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives of the State of Washington, do hereby certify that the attached is HOUSE BILL 1133 as passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on the dates hereon set forth.

JOEL PRITCHARD President of the Senate

MARILYN SHOWALTER                           Chief Clerk

Approved March 21, 1994 Place Style On Codes above, and Style Off Codes below.

FILED                     March 21, 1994 - 11:11 a.m.

MIKE LOWRY Governor of the State of Washington

Secretary of State                   State of Washington

          _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 1133

          _______________________________________________

             Passed Legislature - 1994 Regular Session

State of Washington      53rd Legislature     1993 Regular Session

By Representatives Kremen, Ballasiotes, Ludwig, Long, Riley, H. Myers, Zellinsky, Schmidt, Padden, Fuhrman and Johanson

Read first time 01/15/93.  Referred to Committee on Judiciary.

Allowing the assignment of claims for unlawful conversion of goods and unlawful leaving without paying.

    AN ACT Relating to assignment of claims for unlawful conversion and unlawful leaving without paying; and amending RCW 4.24.230.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

    Sec. 1.  RCW 4.24.230 and 1987 c 353 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) An adult or emancipated minor who takes possession of any goods, wares, or merchandise displayed or offered for sale by any wholesale or retail store or other mercantile establishment without the consent of the owner or seller, and with the intention of converting such goods, wares, or merchandise to his own use without having paid the purchase price thereof shall be liable in addition to actual damages, for a penalty to the owner or seller in the amount of the retail value thereof not to exceed one thousand dollars, plus an additional penalty of not less than one hundred dollars nor more than two hundred dollars, plus all reasonable attorney's fees and court costs expended by the owner or seller.  A customer who orders a meal in a restaurant or other eating establishment, receives at least a portion thereof, and then leaves without paying, is subject to liability under this section.  A person who shall receive any food, money, credit, lodging, or accommodation at any hotel, motel, boarding house, or lodging house, and then leaves without paying the proprietor, manager, or authorized employee thereof, is subject to liability under this section.

    (2) The parent or legal guardian having the custody of an unemancipated minor who takes possession of any goods, wares, or merchandise displayed or offered for sale by any wholesale or retail store or other mercantile establishment without the consent of the owner or seller and with the intention of converting such goods, wares, or merchandise to his own use without having paid the purchase price thereof, shall be liable as a penalty to the owner or seller for the retail value of such goods, wares, or merchandise not to exceed five hundred dollars plus an additional penalty of not less than one hundred dollars nor more than two hundred dollars, plus all reasonable attorney's fees and court costs expended by the owner or seller.  The parent or legal guardian having the custody of an unemancipated minor, who orders a meal in a restaurant or other eating establishment, receives at least a portion thereof, and then leaves without paying, is subject to liability under this section.  The parent or legal guardian having the custody of an unemancipated minor, who receives any food, money, credit, lodging, or accommodation at any hotel, motel, boarding house, or lodging house, and then leaves without paying the proprietor, manager, or authorized employee thereof, is subject to liability under this section.  For the purposes of this subsection, liability shall not be imposed upon any governmental entity, private agency, or foster parent assigned responsibility for the minor child pursuant to court order or action of the department of social and health services.

    (3) Judgments((, but not)) and claims((,)) arising under this section may be assigned.

    (4) A conviction for violation of chapter 9A.56 RCW ((or RCW 9.45.040)) shall not be a condition precedent to maintenance of a civil action authorized by this section.

    (5) An owner or seller demanding payment of a penalty under subsection (1) or (2) of this section shall give written notice to the person or persons from whom the penalty is sought.  The notice shall state:

    "IMPORTANT NOTICE:  The payment of any penalty demanded of you does not prevent criminal prosecution under a related criminal provision."

    This notice shall be boldly and conspicuously displayed, in at least the same size type as is used in the demand, and shall be sent with the demand for payment of a penalty described in subsection (1) ((of [or])) or (2) of this section.

    Passed the House January 19, 1994.

    Passed the Senate March 1, 1994.

Approved by the Governor March 21, 1994.

    Filed in Office of Secretary of State March 21, 1994.