SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 6402

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

                Law & Justice, January 30, 1996

Title:  An act relating to law enforcement training.

Brief Description:  Providing for future law enforcement officers training.

Sponsors:  Senators Haugen, Smith, Fairley, Long, Schow, Sellar, Deccio, Winsley, Roach, McAuliffe and Strannigan.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Law & Justice:  1/22/96, 1/30/96 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LAW & JUSTICE

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6402 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

  Signed by Senators Smith, Chair; Fairley, Vice Chair; Goings, Hargrove, Haugen, Johnson, Long, McCaslin, Roach and Schow.

Staff:  Dick Armstrong (786-7460)

Background:  The Criminal Justice Training Commission was established in 1974 for the primary purpose of providing training and education programs for law enforcement personnel.  The commission provides an 11-week training program for newly commissioned officers and a four-week training program for newly hired corrections personnel.  The commission also provides management training and 30 hours of annual advanced training for current law enforcement officers.  The commission is funded through the public safety education account and its annual budget is approximately $5 million.

Since the time of its creation in 1974, there has not been an extensive review of the duties and programs of the commission.  The Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs believes that a comprehensive study of the existing duties of the commission and the future needs of the law enforcement community would be beneficial.  It is estimated that such a study will cost $35,000.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  The Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs is authorized to assemble a study group to evaluate and make recommendations to the Legislature regarding the mission, duties and administration of the Criminal Justice Training Commission.  The 20-member study group is comprised of representatives from various law enforcement agencies, cities, counties, and colleges.  In addition, one legislator from each caucus of the Senate and the House of Representatives is included in the study group.

The bill contains a null and void clause if specific funding for the study is not authorized.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The original bill was not considered.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  The needs of law enforcement training have changed over the past 20 years.  The types of crime being committed require police to receive more sophisticated training.  There is a need for a better program to train police officials.  The Criminal Justice Training Commission needs to be modernized.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Mike Patrick, Council of Police Officers; John Turner, Mountlake Terrace Police Chief; Mike Cline, Sheriff, Adams County; Linda Broderick, Crown College.