SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SSB 5894

               As Passed Senate, March 19, 1997

Title:  An act relating to correctional personnel training.

Brief Description:  Enhancing training of correctional personnel.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Human Services & Corrections (originally sponsored by Senators Roach, Goings, Zarelli, Horn, Spanel and Winsley).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Human Services & Corrections:  2/27/97, 3/4/97 [DPS].

Passed Senate, 3/19/97, 44-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES & CORRECTIONS

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5894 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

  Signed by Senators Long, Chair; Zarelli, Vice Chair; Franklin, Hargrove, Kohl, Schow and Stevens.

Staff:  Kyle Thiessen (786-7754)

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.

Corrections officers are currently required to attend 160 hours of training in basic skills.

Summary of Bill:  The Board on Correctional Training Standards and Education is established to monitor and evaluate training and education programs for correctional personnel.  The board is to make recommendations to the Criminal Justice Training Commission concerning:  (1) the training and education needs of correctional personnel; (2) standards for the training and education of correctional personnel; (3) minimum curriculum standards for all training and education programs conducted for correctional personnel; (4) standards for instructors of training and education programs for correctional personnel; (5) alternative, innovative, and interdisciplinary training and education techniques for correctional personnel; and (6) the approval of training and education programs for correctional personnel.

The correctional board consists of 14 members:

Cthree members from the state correctional system;

Cthree members from county correctional systems;

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.

The board must report to the commission at the end of each fiscal year regarding the effectiveness of training and education programs for correctional personnel.  The members of the board are appointed for six-year term limits and 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.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  This board previously existed and worked well at that time.  The Criminal Justice Training Commission will benefit from the advice of the board.  Better training will reduce turnover.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Garry Wegner, Criminal Justice Training Commission (pro); Eugene St. John, Neil Wheatley, Bill Casey, WPEA (pro).