HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1732

                       As Passed House

                      February 3, 1992

Title:  An act relating to warrant servers.

Brief Description:  Allowing cities over 400,000 population to assign warrant servers to the police department.

Sponsor(s):  Representatives Appelwick, Winsley, Wineberry, Locke, Ferguson, Scott and Forner.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Judiciary, February 22, 1991, DP;

Passed House, March 12, 1991, 96-0;

Passed House, February 3, 1992, 96-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

JUDICIARY

Majority Report: Do pass.  Signed by 17 members:  Representatives Appelwick, Chair; Ludwig, Vice Chair; Padden, Ranking Minority Member; Paris, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Belcher; Broback; Forner; Hargrove; Locke; R. Meyers; Mielke; H. Myers; Riley; Scott; Tate; Vance; and Wineberry.

Staff:  Annie Thompson (786-7179).

Background:  Until 1977, police departments served warrants issued by the municipal courts.  However, a law enacted in that year made the position of warrant server a function of the municipal court.

Summary of Bill:  Warrant servers may be employees of either the municipal courts or the city police departments.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  Trained police personnel are better equipped than court employees to respond to dangerous situations encountered by warrant servers.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Ted Inckley, Chief, Seattle City Attorney's Office (pro).