HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 2156

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 Reported by House Committee On:

Human Services

Title: An act relating to revising the authority for certification by the criminal justice training commission.

Brief Description: Revising the authority for certification by the criminal justice training commission.

Sponsors: Representatives Orwall and Dickerson; by request of Department of Corrections.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Human Services: 2/16/09, 2/18/09 [DPS].

Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

  • Requires the Department of Corrections (DOC), rather than the Criminal Justice Training Commission, to identify training standards, design curricula, and provide training for its corrections personnel.

  • Requires new DOC personnel to successfully complete core training and all remaining training requirements regarding career level certification applicable to position or rank within a time set by the Secretary of the DOC, unless waived or extended.

  • Requires the Secretary of the DOC to be responsible for assuring that the training needs of the DOC's corrections personnel are met by its training program.

  • Requires the Secretary of the DOC to annually conduct an assessment of its training programs for its personnel.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 8 members: Representatives Dickerson, Chair; Orwall, Vice Chair; Dammeier, Ranking Minority Member; Green, Klippert, Morrell, O'Brien and Walsh.

Staff: Linda Merelle (786-7092)

Background:

The Criminal Justice Training Commission (Commission) must provide the training required for corrections personnel of Washington and all counties and municipal corporations in accordance with standards adopted by the Commission. Unless waived or extended by the Commission, the training must be successfully completed within the first six months of employment, and successful completion is a condition for continued employment.

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Summary of Substitute Bill:

The Commission is no longer responsible for training of the personnel in the prision division of the Department of Corrections (DOC). The Commission and the DOC have a shared responsibility for training the DOC personnel in the community corrections division. The DOC is responsible for identifying training standards, designing curricula and programs, and providing training for its corrections personnel in the prisons division. In developing its training curricula, it must consult with experts in staff development and professionals within and outside of the agency, including labor organizations. The Secretary of the DOC is responsible for assuring that the training needs of the corrections personnel are met by the DOC's training program. The Secretary of the DOC must annually conduct an assessment of the training programs for its personnel.

New personnel of the DOC must, within a period of time to be determined by the Secretary of the DOC, unless waived or extended: (a) successfully complete core training requirements; and (b) successfully complete all remaining requirements for career level certification prescribed by the Secretary of the DOC applicable to their position or rank.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:

The DOC has the sole responsibility for training the staff in the prison's division. The DOC and the Commission would continue to have a shared responsibility for training staff in the correction's division.

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Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested on February 16, 2009.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) This bill allows the DOC to train its own personnel which provides a greater efficiency. The needs and demands for corrections are very different than in city and county jails. One size does not fit all, and the bill allows the DOC to be much more nimble in developing curricula for its personnel. This may be a precursor to using more evidence-based practices. The DOC has run a lot of its own academy operations for the last 10 years. It really has the infrastructure for training in place now. This bill allows DOC to remove some administrative barriers that it has with the Commission.

(With concerns) The jobs of Community Corrections Officers (CCOs) are similar to law enforcement in terms of search, seizure, and arrest; the Commission and the DOC should continue the shared relationship for training of CCOs.

(Opposed) None.

Persons Testifying: (In support) Representative Orwall, prime sponsor; and Scott Blonien and Kevin Bovenkamp, Department of Corrections.

(With concerns) Ton Johnson and Ginger Richardson, Washington Federation of State Employees.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.