Runaway Proposal Faces Lowry Veto

Gov. Mike Lowry is sure to veto a proposal giving judges the power to lock up habitual runaways for up to six months, foes and backers of the legislation said Tuesday.

Jordan Dey, Lowry’s press secretary, declined to confirm the assertions. But a high-level official in the Lowry administration said, “The six-month provision is a goner.”

The section permitting judges to order detainment and treatment of chronic runaways for up to six months is just one element of a fat bill intended to end Washington’s reputation as “runaway heaven.”

Lowry will act on the measure, SB5439, at a ceremony scheduled today at a runaway shelter in Tacoma.

Backers say the six-month detainment provision is crucial to rescuing kids from the streets.

Critics argue it violates a child’s constitutional right to due process and would trigger the withdrawal of more than $1 million in federal funding.

Currently, state and local authorities have little authority to hold runaways for longer than a day.

The six-month detention provision is “so important, so important to doing something about protecting our kids,” said freshman Rep. Mike Carrell, R-Lakewood.

“Without it, what do we have?”

“But he (Lowry) is going to tube it. It was clear to me in our last meeting with him that that’s what he’s going to do,” Carrell said, his face flushed with anger.