SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 6352

              As Passed Senate, February 12, 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:  2/3/98 [DP].

Passed Senate, 2/12/98, 48-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Prince, Chair; Benton, Vice Chair; Wood, Vice Chair; Goings, Haugen, Heavey, Horn, Morton, Oke, Patterson, Rasmussen and Sellar.

Staff:  Paul Neal (786-7315)

Background:  In order to be considered for promotion, Washington State Patrol 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:  All persons concerned agree that this change will bring needed clarification to the question of when a patrol officer qualifies to test for promotion.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Senator Wood, prime sponsor; Annette Sandberg, Chief, WSP.