H-0570.3  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 1265

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      55th Legislature     1997 Regular Session

By Representatives Sterk, O'Brien, Delvin, D. Sommers, Hickel, Wood, Robertson and Grant

Read first time 01/20/97.  Referred to Committee on Criminal Justice & Corrections.

Regulating training for community corrections officers.

    AN ACT Relating to training for community corrections officers; adding new sections to chapter 43.101 RCW; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  (1) Community corrections officers and their immediate supervisors who have completed the requirements in subsection (2) of this section are authorized, but not required, to carry firearms during the course of their official duties.  The department of corrections may not prohibit community corrections officers and their immediate supervisors, who have completed the requirements in subsection (2) of this section, from carrying firearms during the course of their official duties.  As used in sections 1 through 4 of this act, the term "community corrections officers" has the same definition as the term in RCW 9.94A.030(3).

    (2) Before community corrections officers and immediate supervisors may carry firearms, they shall complete firearms training that complies with the standards and requirements established by the commission.  Upon completion of the firearms training, community corrections officers and their immediate supervisors may commence carrying firearms as soon as practical, but no later than thirty days after completion of the firearms training.

    (3) The department of corrections shall arrange for and fund the firearms training, and shall purchase firearms, materials, and equipment necessary for the firearms training.  The department shall also pay for the firearms and equipment that the community corrections officers and their immediate supervisors are authorized to carry.

    (4) The requirement in subsection (2) of this section does not apply to community corrections officers and their immediate supervisors who are authorized to carry firearms by the department of corrections as of January 1, 1997.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  (1) The commission shall establish the standards and requirements for firearms training required in section 1(2) of this act.  The commission shall convene an advisory board to make recommendations for the training standards and requirements.

    (2) The advisory board shall determine the types of firearms and ammunition that community corrections officers and their immediate supervisors are authorized to carry.

    (3) The advisory board includes four members, consisting of two firearms instructors designated by the commission, and two community corrections officers designated by their exclusive bargaining unit.  The commission shall convene the advisory board no later than thirty days after the effective date of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  (1) All community corrections officers shall complete forty hours of defensive tactics training.  This requirement applies regardless of whether or not a community corrections officer chooses to carry a firearm.

    (2) The department of corrections shall arrange with the commission for defensive tactics training that is approved by the commission's defensive tactics training instructors.  The department shall pay for the defensive tactics training required by this section and any updated defensive tactics training required by subsection (3) of this section.

    (3) The department of corrections shall require community corrections officers who have completed the forty-hour defensive tactics training to obtain updated training periodically.  Any course providing updated defensive tactics training must not exceed eight hours.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.  The department of corrections may adopt rules that are reasonable and necessary to effectively implement sections 1 through 4 of this act, but not before the commission has determined standards and requirements pursuant to section 2 of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5.  This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6.  Sections 1 through 4 of this act are each added to chapter 43.101 RCW.

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