FINAL BILL REPORT

                 2SHB 2323

                         C 203 L 96

                     Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Providing for future law enforcement officers training.

Sponsors:  By House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Sterk, Chappell, Thompson, Dellwo, Buck, Hymes, Talcott, Cooke and McMahan).

House Committee on Law & Justice

House Committee on Appropriations

Senate Committee on Law & Justice

Background:  The Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission provides training and education programs for law enforcement personnel, including commissioned officers, corrections officers, fire marshals, and prosecuting attorneys.  The commission is funded by appropriations from the public safety and education account and has an annual budget of approximately $5.5 million.

Basic law enforcement officer training is generally required of all full-time commissioned law enforcement employees of the state.  The training consists of a 440-hour program covering a wide variety of subjects, including constitutional and criminal law and procedures, criminal investigation, firearms training, and communication and writing skills.  The law enforcement training is available only to persons employed as commissioned law enforcement officers and must be commenced within the first six months of employment as a law enforcement officer.

Summary:  The Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs is directed to assemble a study group to evaluate and make recommendations to the Legislature, by January 1, 1997, regarding the mission, duties, and administration of the Criminal Justice Training Commission.  The study group is to be composed of 22 members representing law enforcement agencies, local jurisdictions, community colleges and universities, and the Legislature.

The study group's responsibilities include (1) evaluating the desirability and feasibility of providing law enforcement training to applicants for the position of law enforcement officer; (2) reviewing the adequacy of the basic law enforcement training program; (3) evaluating the status of supervisory, management, and advanced training programs; and (4) making recommendations regarding sources of funding.

The Criminal Justice Training Commission is authorized to provide basic law enforcement training to college students enrolled in criminal justice courses during the summers following the students' junior and senior years, as long as the students bear the full cost of the training.

Votes on Final Passage:

House     97 0

Senate    48 0 (Senate amended)

House     96 0 (House concurred)

Effective:  March 28, 1996