SENATE BILL REPORT
SSB 5634
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in
their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a
statement of legislative intent.
As Amended by House, April 3, 2007
Title: An act relating to corrections personnel training.
Brief Description: Revising corrections personnel training provisions.
Sponsors: Senate Committee on Human Services & Corrections (originally sponsored by Senators Brandland, Kline, McCaslin and Delvin; by request of Criminal Justice Training Commission).
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Human Services & Corrections: 2/09/07, 2/16/07 [DPS].
Ways & Means: 3/02/07 [w/oRec].
Passed Senate: 3/08/07, 49-0.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES & CORRECTIONS
Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5634 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.Signed by Senators Hargrove, Chair; Regala, Vice Chair; Stevens, Ranking Minority Member; Brandland, Carrell and McAuliffe.
Staff: Kiki Keizer (786-7430)
Background: The Corrections Reform Act of 1981 (CRA) established the Department of
Corrections as a separate department of state government, with a secretary appointed by the
Governor and confirmed by the Senate. The CRA also included provisions designed to reform
inmate work programs and establish correctional standards.
The CRA required mandatory minimum staff training for corrections personnel of the state and
all counties employed on or after January 1, 1982, and all corrections personnel promoted to
supervisory or management positions after that date. The basic corrections training required by
the CRA was to be adopted by the Criminal Justice Training Commission (CJTC).
Summary of Substitute Bill: Corrections personnel who receive core training must complete
certification requirements, prescribed by rule of the Criminal Justice Training Commission,
within a year of completing core training. The training requirement for corrections personnel is
moved to a section of the statutes concerning law enforcement core training requirements.
A reference to a section of the statutes that has been repealed is eliminated.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: The intent was to clean up the statute because, after RCW 43.101.160 was repealed, it was unclear whether the CJTC was still authorized to set standards for basic academy training. There are some problems with the language, as drafted, but the CJTC is willing to work with staff on those. For example, it was not the CJTC's intent to eliminate training and the resources necessary to provide it.
Persons Testifying: PRO: Carri Brezonick, Criminal Justice Training Commission.
House Amendment(s): An existing statutory provision stating that "Nothing in the section shall affect or impair the employment of an employee whose employer does not provide him with the opportunity to engage in the required training" is eliminated.