OLYMPIA, WA — A bill aimed at strengthening supervision requirements for individuals convicted of stalking has passed the Washington State House of Representatives with unanimous support.

House Bill 2510, sponsored by Rep. Brian Burnett, would add stalking to the list of offenses that require Department of Corrections supervision when an individual is sentenced to community custody.

The legislation amends RCW 9.94A.501 to include individuals convicted and sentenced under Washington’s stalking statute, RCW 9A.46.110, among those the department must supervise. Specifically, the bill adds stalking to the section requiring supervision regardless of risk classification.

Under current law, the department supervises certain individuals placed on community custody, including those convicted of specified sex offenses, domestic violence-related felonies, vehicular homicide, felony DUI, and other serious crimes. Stalking was not previously included in that subsection.

During floor debate on Wednesday, Burnett, a former Chelan County sheriff, told lawmakers that victims of stalking often live in ongoing fear.

“Fear is a huge thing in the world that we live in. And for some people it’s a much bigger thing and it’s a crisis,” Burnett said, according to a House Republican communications radio report.

He said the measure is intended to help ensure accountability after conviction.

“This is the right thing to do. This is to help keep people accountable. There’s no person should put them in fear like that,” Burnett said.

The bill does not change the legal definition of stalking or its criminal penalties. It focuses on post-sentencing supervision by requiring the Department of Corrections to oversee individuals convicted of stalking when they are placed on community custody.

House Bill 2510 now moves to the Washington State Senate for further consideration.