The proposed bill aims to strengthen the regulation of scrap metal businesses in Washington State to safeguard critical infrastructure and deter the sale of stolen materials. Key amendments include stricter requirements for transaction records involving nonferrous metal property, which now necessitate a seller's declaration affirming that the property is not stolen. Additionally, it is made unlawful for scrap metal businesses to sell or offer records of these transactions. The bill also mandates new payment methods, prohibiting cash payments and requiring transactions to be conducted via stored value devices, electronic funds transfers, or nontransferable checks, with specific compliance conditions. Civil penalties are established for violations, particularly concerning transactions involving stolen copper from telecommunication cables, with escalating penalties for repeated infractions, including potential loss of licensure after three violations.

Moreover, the bill introduces new legal definitions and penalties related to the destruction of critical communications infrastructure, defining such destruction as the intentional damage or rendering inoperable of communications services, encompassing both physical and cyber components. This act is classified as a class C felony, carrying specific criminal penalties. The bill also establishes a civil cause of action for individuals who suffer damages due to such destruction, allowing them to seek recovery in superior court. By amending existing law and adding new sections to chapter 9A.56 RCW, the bill emphasizes the importance of protecting communication services and provides a legal framework for both criminal prosecution and civil recourse for affected parties, reflecting a growing recognition of the need to safeguard essential communication systems from intentional harm.

Statutes affected:
Original bill: 19.290.020, 19.290.030, 19.290.040, 19.290.080, 19.290.140, 9A.82.010, 9.94A.515