H-2186.1  _______________________________________________

 

                          HOUSE BILL 2228

          _______________________________________________

 

State of Washington      55th Legislature     1997 Regular Session

 

By Representatives Gombosky, Doumit, Blalock, Butler, Cooper, Murray, Kessler, Conway, Constantine, Wood, Dunshee and Lantz

 

Read first time 03/03/97.  Referred to Committee on Criminal Justice & Corrections.

Implementing local community-oriented policing.


    AN ACT Relating to community-oriented policing; adding a new section to chapter 43.63A RCW; creating new sections; and making appropriations.

 

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

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1.  The legislature finds that:

    (1) Crime remains among the top concerns among Washington residents;

    (2) Community policing is a strategy that builds on fundamental policing practices with an emphasis on crime prevention and lasting solutions to problems;

    (3) Community-oriented policing can rebuild the bond between citizens and government; and

    (4) It is in the public interest to provide state support to community groups to organize and implement community-oriented policing programs.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 43.63A RCW to read as follows:

    (1) The department shall distribute grants to eligible community groups to organize and implement local community-oriented policing programs.

    (2) Eligibility for grants under this section shall be limited to eligible community groups that work collaboratively with local law enforcement agencies to identify and address community problems.

    (3) Grants under this section may be used to pay part or all of the community group costs associated with:

    (a) Staffing for site offices;

    (b) Taking reports from community residents about potential nonemergent problems that require a community or law enforcement response;

    (c) Administering crime prevention programs;

    (d) Staffing and administering neighborhood-based alternative dispute resolution programs for nonemergent problems; and

    (e) Other duties designed to reduce crime through a problem-solving partnership that are approved by a local law enforcement agency.

    (4) The department shall, through a request for proposal process, evaluate proposals for the development, administration, and implementation of local community-oriented policing programs.

    (5) The community group proposal shall include, but not be limited to a description of the program, the goals and objectives of the program, a demonstration of broad-based community and local law enforcement support for the proposal, and a proposed budget for the program.

    (6) As used in this section, "community group" means any organization recognized by a city or county as such, as well as private, nonprofit organizations registered with the secretary of state.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3.  The department of community, trade, and economic development may receive gifts, grants, or endowments from public and private sources that are made from time to time, in trust or otherwise, for the use and benefit of the purposes of sections 1 and 2 of this act and spend gifts, grants, or endowments or income from the public or private sources according to their terms, unless the receipt of the gifts, grants, or endowments violates RCW 42.17.710.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4.  (1) The sum of one hundred twenty-five thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1998, from the general fund to the department of community, trade, and economic development for the purposes of sections 1 and 2 of this act.

    (2) The sum of one hundred twenty-five thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1999, from the general fund to the department of community, trade, and economic development for the purposes of sections 1 and 2 of this act.

 


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