SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6628

As Passed Senate, February 16, 2002

Title:  An act relating to probationary periods of campus police officer appointees.

Brief Description:  Establishing the probationary period for campus police officer appointees.

Sponsors:  Senators Kohl‑Welles, Sheahan and Jacobsen; by request of University of Washington.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Higher Education:  1/29/02, 2/7/02 [DP].

Passed Senate:  2/16/02, 49-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.

Signed by Senators Kohl‑Welles, Chair; Shin, Vice Chair; Carlson, Horn, Jacobsen, McAuliffe, Parlette, Sheahan and B. Sheldon.

Staff:  Heather Lewis-Lechner (786-7448)

Background:  Under current Washington law, the Washington Personnel Resources Board (WPRB) is required to adopt rules regarding the procedures pertaining to state personnel, including the probationary period required for newly appointed permanent employees.  The WPRB has the authority to set probationary periods of six to 12 months for all employees except state park rangers, who must serve a 12-month probationary period.  Currently, the Personnel Board has set the probationary period for all newly appointed campus police as 12 months from the date of their appointment.

The Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission provides programs and standards for the training of criminal justice personnel.  All law enforcement personnel, except volunteers and reserve officers, employed on or after January 1, 1978, are required to have basic law enforcement training that complies with the standards set out by the commission.  The commission must provide this basic training along with all necessary facilities and materials.

Summary of Bill:  The WPRB must adopt rules that set the probationary period of campus police officer appointees as 12 months.  For appointees who are required to attend the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission basic law enforcement academy, the 12 months is from the date the officer successfully completes the academy.  If academy training is not required, the 12-month probationary period is from the date the officer is appointed.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  This bill is good for public safety and for management.  Currently, there is very little time to review an officer after he or she gets out of the academy and is on the street.  It does not make sense to lose five months of observation time while the officer is in the academy.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Dick Thompson, Everett Butler, U.W.; Vicky Peltzer, U.W. Police; Steve Huntsberry, TESC Police; Tom McGill, EWU Police.