SENATE BILL REPORT

                                    SB 6156

          AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON LAW & JUSTICE, JANUARY 30, 1992

Brief Description:  Revising provisions relating to warrant servers.

SPONSORS: Senators Talmadge, Nelson, Rasmussen, Newhouse, Moore, Bluechel, Gaspard, Hayner, Erwin, Pelz, Thorsness, Williams, Madsen, Niemi, M. Kreidler, von Reichbauer, Stratton, Barr, McDonald, Murray and Johnson

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LAW & JUSTICE

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6156 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass. 

      Signed by Senators Nelson, Chairman; Thorsness, Vice Chairman; Erwin, M. Kreidler, Madsen, Newhouse, Rasmussen, and A. Smith.

Staff:  Ben Barnes (786‑7465)

Hearing Dates: January 29, 1992; January 30, 1992

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:

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

The title of the position is changed from warrant "server" to warrant "officer."

Warrant officers are expressly authorized to make arrests for any crimes committed coincidental to their warrant service.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

The title of "warrant server" is changed to "warrant officer."

Warrant officers are considered employees of the city police department.

In addition to the arrest authority granted by warrants, warrant officers are authorized to effect such arrests as may be determined by the city council.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  requested January 24, 1992

TESTIMONY FOR:

Trained police personnel are better equipped than court employees to respond to dangerous situations encountered by warrant officers.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:

The provision of additional financial resources, rather than a transfer of the warrant unit, is needed to eliminate the backlog of unserved warrants.

TESTIFIED:  Tom Krett, Teamsters Local 763 (pro); Walter Furler (pro); Lori Ann Nelsen, City of Seattle (pro); Charles Foster, Seattle Municipal Court (con); Norward Brooks, City of Seattle (pro); Herb Krohn, City of Seattle (pro)