HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1732

                  As Amended by the Senate

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;

Amended by Senate.

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.

EFFECT OF SENATE AMENDMENT(S): The Senate amendment to HB 1732 makes three changes.  First, the title of "warrant server" is changed to "warrant officer."  Second, warrant officers must be employees of the city police department, rather than employees of either the police department or the municipal court.  Third, in addition to being granted arrest authority under court issued warrants, warrant officers are granted arrest authority under city ordinances.

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).

VOTE ON FINAL PASSAGE:

Yeas 96; Excused 2

Excused:  Representatives Brekke, Wynne