Z-0692.1 _______________________________________________
HOUSE BILL 1632
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State of Washington 55th Legislature 1997 Regular Session
By Representatives D. Schmidt, Scott, Reams, Kenney, Blalock, Dickerson, Wood, Ogden, Costa, Dunn, Tokuda, Butler and Cole; by request of Attorney General
Read first time 02/03/97. Referred to Committee on Government Administration.
AN ACT Relating to training for state investigators; creating a new section; and providing an expiration date.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) The legislature finds that there is a need for more coordinated and uniform training and protocols for state investigators. State investigators are employed by numerous state agencies and separately elected offices. Currently there is minimal training on policies and procedures for investigations, enforcement, and scope of duties and responsibilities. It is the intent of the legislature to commission a study group to develop mandatory training, policies, and procedures for state investigators.
(2) The study group shall focus on state investigators in the following agencies: Attorney general's office; auditor's office; department of corrections; department of health; department of labor and industries; department of licensing; department of revenue; liquor control board; public disclosure commission; and Washington state patrol.
(3) The study group shall consist of: The attorney general; chief of the state patrol; state auditor; one legislator from each caucus of the senate and house of representatives, as appointed by leaders of the caucuses; a representative from the governor's office; two representatives of state agencies appointed by the governor; a representative appointed by the Washington association of prosecuting attorneys; a representative appointed by the Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs; and a representative appointed by the criminal justice program at Washington State University. The study group shall be cochaired by the attorney general and the chief of the state patrol.
(4) The study group shall:
(a) Develop minimum ongoing training requirements for state investigators. Training must include education in civil investigations and recognition of crimes for transfer to appropriate law enforcement agencies;
(b) Evaluate current training requirements, policies, and procedures for state investigators;
(c) Recommend who will provide training, how it will be done, and minimal training requirements;
(d) Recommend basic policies and procedures for state investigators;
(e) Develop cost estimates for mandatory training;
(f) Make recommendations on the scope of duties and responsibilities for state investigators; and
(g) Include other issues related to state investigators, as desired by the study group.
(5) The study group shall deliver its recommendations to the legislature by December 1, 1997.
(6) This section shall expire June 1, 1998.
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