HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  SB 6352

                      As Passed House:

                        March 5, 1998

Title:  An act relating to examination eligibility requirements for Washington state patrol officers.

Brief Description:  Specifying examination eligibility requirements for Washington state patrol officers.

Sponsors:  Senators Wood and Haugen; by request of Washington State Patrol.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Transportation Policy & Budget:  2/25/98, 3/2/98 [DP].

Floor Activity:

Passed House:  3/5/98, 98-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION POLICY & BUDGET

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 27 members:  Representatives K. Schmidt, Chairman; Hankins, Vice Chairman; Mielke, Vice Chairman; Mitchell, Vice Chairman; Fisher, Ranking Minority Member; Cooper, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Backlund; Buck; Cairnes; Chandler; Constantine; DeBolt; Gardner; Hatfield; Johnson; McCune; Murray; O'Brien; Ogden; Radcliff; Robertson; Romero; Scott; Skinner; Sterk; Wood and Zellinsky.

Staff:  Paul Neal (786-7315).

Background:  In order to be considered for promotion, Washington State Patrol (WSP) officers participate in a testing process.  Testing is a six-week process that is conducted every two years.

Current law requires a patrol officer to have a certain number of years of experience before he or she can take a test for promotion.  It is unclear whether the statutorily required experience must be completed before beginning the six-week testing process or whether it is sufficient that the patrol officer have the required experience by the time the testing process is concluded.

Summary of Bill:  A patrol officer must complete the statutorily required years of experience before he or she can begin the testing process.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  This change will bring needed clarification to the question of when a patrol officer qualifies to test for promotion.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Chief Annette Sandberg, WSP; and Bill Hanson, WSP Troopers Association.