HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB 1001
As Passed Legislature
Title: An act relating to establishing a law enforcement professional development outreach grant program.
Brief Description: Establishing a law enforcement professional development outreach grant program.
Sponsors: Representatives Maycumber, Lovick, Ryu, Boehnke, Leavitt, Lekanoff, Tharinger, Goodman, Young, Graham, Cody, Robertson and Johnson, J..
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Appropriations: 1/19/21, 2/4/21 [DP].
Floor Activity:
Passed House: 2/10/21, 98-0.
Passed Senate: 4/6/21, 49-0.
Passed Legislature.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Authorizes the development of a grant program to encourage a broader diversity of candidates to seek careers in law enforcement.
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by 33 members:Representatives Ormsby, Chair; Bergquist, Vice Chair; Gregerson, Vice Chair; Macri, Vice Chair; Stokesbary, Ranking Minority Member; Chambers, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Corry, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; MacEwen, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Boehnke, Caldier, Chandler, Chopp, Cody, Dolan, Dye, Fitzgibbon, Frame, Hansen, Harris, Hoff, Jacobsen, Johnson, J., Lekanoff, Pollet, Rude, Ryu, Schmick, Senn, Springer, Steele, Stonier, Sullivan and Tharinger.
Staff: Yvonne Walker (786-7841).
Background:

The Criminal Justice Training Commission (CJTC) provides training and educational programs to law enforcement, corrections officers, and other public safety professionals in Washington.
 
Basic law enforcement officer training is required of all law enforcement personnel, with the exception of volunteers and reserve officers.  The Basic Law Enforcement Academy (BLEA) consists of a 720-hour program covering a wide variety of subjects including:  criminal law and procedures; traffic enforcement; cultural awareness; communication and writing skills; emergency vehicle operations; firearms; crisis intervention; patrol procedures; criminal investigation; and defensive tactics.  The CJTC also certifies and, when necessary, decertifies officers.
Summary of Bill:

The Criminal Justice Training Commission (CJTC) must establish a law enforcement professional development outreach grant program to encourage a broader diversity of candidates from underrepresented groups and communities to seek careers in law enforcement.  Law enforcement agencies are eligible to compete for grant funding no later than December 1, 2021.
 
Grants must be awarded to local law enforcement agencies based on locally developed proposals.  Each proposal must include a plan for encouraging persons from underrepresented groups and communities to seek careers in law enforcement.  Two or more law enforcement agencies may submit a joint grant proposal for a multijurisdictional project.  No single grant award may exceed $60,000.  At least one grant recipient should be from Eastern Washington and one grant recipient from Western Washington.
 
The CJTC must submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature on the grant program by December 1, 2022, that summarizes the grant recipients, use of funds, and the potential impact on recruitment.
 
Funding for the grant program is subject to the availability of the amounts appropriated.
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 is a professional development bill that is meant to bring a foundation for the next generation in underrepresented communities.  Community-based policing occurs when you have children who want to serve as peace officers in the future.  However, the problem is that police are reactionary and only show up in communities when something happens.  


Effective community policing means having a police force that resembles the communities in which they live, serve, and work.  It is already difficult to recruit effective and qualified people to join the field of law enforcement and it is even more difficult to have a diverse list of candidates to choose from.  Despite the actions of a few, law enforcement is an honorable profession.   Diversity is what makes law enforcement strong, both as an an organization and as a profession.

(Opposed ) None.
Persons Testifying: Representative Maycumber, prime sponsor; James McMahan, Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs; Mark Brinkman, Washington Council of Police and Sheriffs; and James Schrimpsher, Washington State Fraternal Order of Police.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.