BP BHEAD INT S [atlas:bill]

AN ACT Relating to funding law enforcement training; amending RCW 43.101.200; creating a new section; and making appropriations.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature recognizes the important work of men and women who serve as law enforcement officers. The legislature also recognizes the need to provide law enforcement officers with adequate training to provide for the safety and security of both law enforcement officers as well as the general public. The legislature also affirms that it is the responsibility of the criminal justice training commission to establish curriculum standards, including the duration of the basic law enforcement academy course, for law enforcement officers pursuant to RCW 43.101.080.

Sec. 2. RCW 43.101.200 and 1997 c 351 s 13 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) All law enforcement personnel, except volunteers, and reserve officers whether paid or unpaid, initially employed on or after January 1, 1978, shall engage in basic law enforcement training which complies with standards adopted by the commission pursuant to RCW 43.101.080. For personnel initially employed before January 1, 1990, such training shall be successfully completed during the first fifteen months of employment of such personnel unless otherwise extended or waived by the commission and shall be requisite to the continuation of such employment. Personnel initially employed on or after January 1, 1990, shall commence basic training during the first six months of employment unless the basic training requirement is otherwise waived or extended by the commission. Successful completion of basic training is requisite to the continuation of employment of such personnel initially employed on or after January 1, 1990.

(2) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the commission shall provide the aforementioned training together with necessary facilities, supplies, materials, and the board and room of noncommuting attendees for seven days per week. ((~~Additionally, to the extent funds are provided for this purpose,~~)) The commission shall reimburse to participating law enforcement agencies with ten or less full-time commissioned patrol officers the cost of temporary replacement of each officer who is enrolled in basic law enforcement training: PROVIDED, That such reimbursement shall include only the actual cost of temporary replacement not to exceed the total amount of salary and benefits received by the replaced officer during his or her training period. To the extent that sufficient funding for reimbursement is not provided under RCW 82.14.330, the legislature shall provide sufficient additional funding from other sources.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. (1) The sum of one million eighty-four 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 criminal justice training commission. These funds are provided solely for increasing the length of the basic law enforcement academy training class. In the event that the criminal justice training commission does not adopt rules that increase the length of the basic law enforcement academy class by June 30, 1999, the amount provided in this subsection shall lapse.

(2) The sum of seventy-four 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 criminal justice training commission. These funds are provided solely to reimburse jurisdictions with ten or fewer officers for the cost of salaries and benefits pursuant to RCW 43.101.200.

(3) The sum of nine hundred twenty-seven 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 criminal justice training commission. These funds are provided solely for the purchase of computer hardware and software necessary to: Automate the training classrooms, distribute course information and register students over the internet, provide distance learning, and provide staff and students with appropriate technology.

(4) The sum of one million nine hundred 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 criminal justice training commission. These funds are provided solely for the expansion, renovation, or operation, in any combination, of the law enforcement training facility located in Spokane.