SENATE BILL REPORT

HB 1067

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

Transportation, March 27, 2001

Title:  An act relating to the commissioning and training of railroad police.

Brief Description:  Revising provisions relating to the commissioning and training of railroad police.

Sponsors:  By Representatives O'Brien, Ballasiotes, Delvin, Lovick and Haigh; by request of Criminal Justice Training Commission.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Transportation:  3/19/01, 3/27/01 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.

Signed by Senators Haugen, Chair; Gardner, Vice Chair; Benton, Eide, Finkbeiner, Horn, Jacobsen, Johnson, Kastama, McAuliffe, Oke, Patterson, Prentice, T. Sheldon and Swecker.

Staff:  Dean Carlson (786‑7305)

Background:  The Governor has the responsibility of appointing and commissioning railroad police officers at the request of a railroad corporation.  Railroad police officers have the power and authority of any other  peace officer, but only to protect the property of a railroad corporation.  Currently, they are not required to undergo any specific training related to their duties.

Railroad police officers are required to wear a metal shield in plain view while on duty.

Summary of Bill:  The responsibility of commissioning and training railroad police is transferred from the Governor to the Criminal Justice Training Commission (CJTC).

A railroad police officer must complete a course of training prescribed or approved by the CJTC.  The corporation requesting the appointment of a railroad police officer must pay for the full cost of training.

While on duty, a railroad police officer may either wear a badge in plain view or carry official credentials and present them when requested.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  The Governor has been appointing these positions since territorial days when it was necessary.  This helps to make sure railroad police get good training.  There would be about two or three appointments per year.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Representative Al O'Brien, prime sponsor; Michael Parsons, Criminal Justice Training Commission (pro); Patrick Halstead, BNSF Railway (pro).