FINAL BILL REPORT
E2SHB 1423
PARTIAL VETO
C 351 L 97
Synopsis as Enacted
Brief Description: Strengthening the criminal justice training commission.
Sponsors: By House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Sterk, Costa, Sheahan, McDonald, Koster, Robertson, Carrell, Sherstad, Hickel, Delvin, L. Thomas, O'Brien and Conway).
House Committee on Criminal Justice & Corrections
House Committee on Appropriations
Senate Committee on Law & Justice
Senate Committee on Ways & Means
Background: The Criminal Justice Training Commission was established in 1974 for the primary purpose of providing basic law enforcement training, corrections training, and educational programs for criminal justice personnel, including commissioned officers, corrections officers, fire marshals, and prosecuting attorneys.
Membership. The commission consists of twelve members who are selected as follows:
$the Governor appoints two incumbent sheriffs and two incumbent chiefs of police;
$the Governor appoints one person employed in a county correctional system and one person employed in the state correctional system;
$the Governor appoints one incumbent county prosecuting attorney or municipal attorney;
$the Governor appoints one elected official of a local government;
$the Governor appoints one private citizen; and
$the three remaining members are the attorney general, the special agent in charge of the Seattle office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the chief of the state patrol.
Training. 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 of each law enforcement officer.
Course Fees. Although the commission is funded by appropriations from the public safety and education account, it provides training to criminal justice personnel at no cost.
Training Evaluation. In 1996, the Legislature directed the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs to review the commission along with its duties and administration. The intent of this study was to review the costs associated with providing training while raising the standards of quality law enforcement training.
Investigation Training on Cases Involving Children. The commission does not provide an intensive training session on the investigation of child abuse and neglect cases.
Summary: Various changes are made in the Criminal Justice Training Commission and its training programs.
Membership. The membership of the commission is increased by four positions for a total of sixteen members. The four members are appointed by the Governor and must be peace officers representing local law enforcement agencies. Peace officers must have a rank of sergeant or below and be currently serving as a training officer.
Training. All law enforcement personnel hired, transferred or promoted effective January 1, 1999, are required to complete the core training requirements within six months unless the employee receives a waiver from the commission. All other position-related training must be completed within one year after the core training.
Course Fees. The commission must provide room and board for attendees who do not live within 50 miles of the training center.
Training Evaluation. Two separate boards are established to make recommendations to the commission regarding law enforcement training: the Board on Law Enforcement Training Standards and Education, and the Board on Correctional Training Standards and Education.
The law enforcement board will consist of 13 members:
Cthree members, recommended by the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs, must be from a county law enforcement agency;
Cthree members, recommended by the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs, must be from city police agencies;
Cone member representing community colleges and one member representing four-year colleges;
Cone member representing tribal law enforcement in Washington; and
Cfour members representing and recommended by the council of police officers.
The correctional board will consist of 14 members:
Cthree members from the state correctional system of whom one must be employed as a front line correctional officer;
Cthree members from the county correctional system of whom one must be employed as a front line correctional officer;
Ctwo members from the juvenile corrections or probation system (one at the state level and one at the county level);
Ctwo members who are employed in community corrections;
Cone member representing community colleges and one member representing four-year colleges; and
Ctwo members with experience and interest in correctional training standards and education.
Each board must report to the commission at the end of each fiscal year regarding the effectiveness of training and education programs for criminal justice personnel. The members of both boards are appointed for six year term limits. Members participating on these boards are eligible to receive reimbursement for their travel expenses to attend board meetings.
Every two years the commission must submit an evaluation of its training program to the Legislature.
Investigation Training on Cases Involving Children. The commission must provide an intensive training session on the investigation of child abuse and neglect cases.
Votes on Final Passage:
House 94 0
Senate 45 0 (Senate amended)
House 90 1 (House concurred)
Effective:May 13, 1997
Partial Veto Summary: Vetoes the provision that increases the membership of the Criminal Justice Training Commission by four (law enforcement) positions for a total of 16 members.