6032-S AMS OBAN MURR 334

SSB 6032 - S AMD 711

By Senator O'Ban

ADOPTED 02/23/2018

    On page 398, after line 12, insert the following:

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 919.  A new section is added to 2017 3rd sp.s. c 1 (uncodified) to read as follows:

(1) A joint legislative task force is created to develop strategies for identification and intervention against potential perpetrators of mass shootings and to report on recommendations for their prevention.

(2) The task force is composed of members as provided in this subsection.

(a) The president of the senate shall appoint one member from each of the two largest caucuses of the senate.

(b) The speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint one member from each of the two largest caucuses of the house of representatives.

(c) The president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives jointly shall appoint members representing:

(i) The Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs;

(ii) The Washington state patrol;

(iii) The superintendent of public instruction;

(iv) The Washington association of prosecuting attorneys;

(v) The Washington association of criminal defense attorneys or the Washington defender association;

(vi) The Washington state association of counties;

(vii) The office of the attorney general;

(viii) The American civil liberties union of Washington;

(ix) Two colleges or universities in Washington state;

(x) The superior court judges' association; and

(xii) The administrative office for the courts.

(d) No less than two family members of victims of mass shootings must be invited to sit on the task force.

(3) The task force shall assess and make recommendations regarding:

(a) Strategies to identify persons who may commit mass shootings associated with K-12 schools and colleges and universities;

(b) A survey of services around the state available for those experiencing a mental health crisis;

(c) A survey of state and federal laws related to intervening against potential perpetrators or confiscating their firearms; and

(d) Strategies used by other states or recommended nationally to address the problem of mass shootings.

(4) The legislative membership shall convene the initial meeting of the task force no later than June 2018.

(5) The task force shall submit a report, which may include findings, recommendations, and proposed legislation, to the appropriate committees of the legislature by December 1, 2018. The report shall consider the following strategies:

(a) Promoting to the public the availability of extreme risk protection orders as a means of avoiding mass shootings;

(b) A rapid response interdisciplinary team compromised of law enforcement, mental health experts, and other appropriate parties who could be mobilized to intervene and prevent a potential crisis at a school or institution of higher learning; and

(c) Whether reasonable restrictions should be imposed on the access to firearms by those suffering from a mental illness that are consistent with the individual right to bear arms.

(6) Staff support for the task force must be provided by the senate committee services and the house of representatives office of program research.

(7) Legislative members of the task force are reimbursed for travel expenses in accordance with RCW 44.04.120. Nonlegislative members are not entitled to be reimbursed for travel expenses if they are elected officials or are participating on behalf of an employer, governmental entity, or other organization. Any reimbursement for other nonlegislative members is subject to chapter 43.03 RCW.

(8) The expenses of the task force shall be paid jointly by the senate and the house of representatives. Task force expenditures are subject to approval by the senate facilities and operations committee and the house of representatives executive rules committee, or their successor committees.

(9) This section expires July 1, 2019."

     Renumber the remaining sections consecutively and correct any internal references accordingly.

EFFECT: Creates a joint legislative task force to develop strategies to identify and intervene against potential perpetrators of mass shootings.  

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