HOUSE BILL REPORT
SHB 2785
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 Passed Legislature
Title: An act relating to the membership of the criminal justice training commission.
Brief Description: Concerning the membership of the criminal justice training commission.
Sponsors: House Committee on Public Safety (originally sponsored by Representatives Lekanoff, Goodman, Klippert, Lovick and Peterson).
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Public Safety: 1/28/20, 2/4/20 [DPS].
Floor Activity:
Passed House: 2/18/20, 98-0.
Passed Senate: 3/3/20, 49-0.
Passed Legislature.
Brief Summary of Substitute Bill |
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY |
Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 11 members: Representatives Goodman, Chair; Davis, Vice Chair; Appleton, 2nd Vice Chair; Klippert, Ranking Minority Member; Sutherland, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Graham, Griffey, Lovick, Orwall, Pellicciotti and Pettigrew.
Staff: Kelly Leonard (786-7147).
Background:
The Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission (CJTC) establishes standards for and provides training to criminal justice professionals, including peace officers and local corrections officers. Among its many duties, the CJTC manages the Basic Law Enforcement Academy and provides advanced training to practitioners. The CJTC also certifies and, when necessary, decertifies peace officers.
The CJTC consists of 14 members. The Governor is required to appoint 11 members, including:
two incumbent sheriffs;
two incumbent chiefs of police;
one officer with at least 10 years of experience and who is employed at or below the level of first line supervisor from a county law enforcement agency;
one officer with at least 10 years of experience and who is employed at or below the level of first line supervisor from a municipal law enforcement agency;
one person employed in a county correctional system;
one person employed in the state correctional system;
one incumbent county prosecuting attorney or municipal attorney;
one elected official of a local government; and
one private citizen.
In addition, there are three ex-officio members, serving as a result of another official position, including:
the Attorney General;
the special agent in charge of the Seattle Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and
the Chief of the Washington State Patrol.
Members are appointed for terms of six years, and may be reappointed for additional terms. Members are generally not paid a salary or wage. However, for a member who does not occupy a position with the federal, state, or local government, he or she may be eligible to receive $50 of compensation for each day during which he or she attends an official meeting or performs statutorily prescribed duties, as approved by the CJTC Chair. Members may qualify to receive reimbursement for travel expenses in accordance with state law.
Summary of Substitute Bill:
An additional two positions on the CJTC are created.
The Governor must appoint one additional private citizen. Of the private citizen appointees, one must be from Eastern Washington and the other from Western Washington. At least one private citizen appointee must be from a historically underrepresented community.
The Governor must also appoint a specified representative from a federally recognized tribe that has an active agreement with the CJTC for certifying tribal peace officers.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: 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 is about improving transparency and community trust. The rulemaking process required by Initiative Measure No. 940 to the Legislature brought everyone together on critical public safety issues. This bill is an important next step in this process. Adding an additional community member will allow the CJTC to continue and advance these conversations.
The bill should be amended to include a representative of a federally recognized tribe. The state should recognize the unique sovereign-to-sovereign relationship it has with tribes, including in the context of law enforcement.
(Opposed) None.
Persons Testifying: Representative Lekanoff, prime sponsor; and Derek Zable, Criminal Justice Training Commission.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.