S-1557.1  _______________________________________________

 

                         SENATE BILL 5893

          _______________________________________________

 

State of Washington      55th Legislature     1997 Regular Session

 

By Senators Roach, Goings, Zarelli, Horn, Spanel, Patterson, Long and Haugen

 

Read first time 02/18/97.  Referred to Committee on Law & Justice.

Enhancing training of law enforcement personnel.


    AN ACT Relating to law enforcement personnel training; 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.  A new section is added to chapter 43.101 RCW to read as follows:

    The board on law enforcement training standards and education is created and established.  The purpose of the board is to review and recommend to the commission programs and standards for the training and education of law enforcement personnel.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 43.101 RCW to read as follows:

    The board on law enforcement training standards and education consists of thirteen members, appointed by the executive director and subject to approval by the commission.  Members must be selected as follows:  (1) Three must represent county law enforcement agencies, at least two of whom must be incumbent sheriffs; (2) three must represent city police agencies, at least two of whom must be incumbent police chiefs; (3) one must represent community colleges; (4) one must represent the four-year colleges and universities; (5) four must represent the council of police officers, two of whom must be training officers; and (6) one must represent tribal law enforcement in Washington.  The four officers under subsection (5) of this section may be solicited by the executive director only after the council of police officers provides the director with the names of qualified officers.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3.  A new section is added to chapter 43.101 RCW to read as follows:

    All members of the board must be appointed for terms of six years, commencing on July 1st, and expiring on June 30th.  However, of the members first appointed four will serve for terms of two years, four will serve for terms of four years, and five will serve for terms of six years.  A member chosen to fill a vacancy that has been created other than by expiration of a term must be appointed for the unexpired term of the member to be succeeded.  A member may be reappointed for additional terms.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4.  A new section is added to chapter 43.101 RCW to read as follows:

    A member appointed as an incumbent official or because of employment status, ceases to be a member of the board immediately upon the termination of the holding of the qualifying office or employment.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5.  A new section is added to chapter 43.101 RCW to read as follows:

    The board shall elect a chair and vice-chair from among its members.  A simple majority of the members of the board is a quorum.  The commission shall summon the board to its first meeting.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6.  A new section is added to chapter 43.101 RCW to read as follows:

    Members of the board may be paid their travel expenses in accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 7.  A new section is added to chapter 43.101 RCW to read as follows:

    The board has the following powers:

    (1) To meet at such times and places as it may deem proper;

    (2) To adopt bylaws for the conduct of business;

    (3) To cooperate with and secure the cooperation of any department, agency, or instrumentality in state, county, or city government, and commissions affected by or concerned with the business of the commission;

    (4) To do any and all things necessary or convenient to enable it fully and adequately to perform its duties and to exercise the powers granted to it;

    (5) To advise the commission of the training and education needs of law enforcement personnel;

    (6) To recommend to the commission standards for the training and education of law enforcement personnel;

    (7) To recommend to the commission minimum curriculum standards for all training and education programs conducted for law enforcement personnel;

    (8) To recommend to the commission standards for instructors of training and education programs for law enforcement personnel;

    (9) To recommend to the commission alternative, innovative, and interdisciplinary training and education techniques for law enforcement personnel;

    (10) To review and recommend to the commission the approval of training and education programs for law enforcement personnel;

    (11) To monitor and evaluate training and education programs for law enforcement personnel.

    The board shall report to the commission at the end of each fiscal year on the effectiveness of training and education programs for law enforcement personnel.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 8.  A new section is added to chapter 43.101 RCW to read as follows:

    For the purpose of raising the level of competence of law enforcement personnel, the commission shall review the recommendations of the board made under section 7 of this act.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 9.  A new section is added to chapter 43.101 RCW to read as follows:

    (1) All law enforcement personnel initially hired to, transferred to, or promoted to a supervisory or management position on or after January 1, 1999, shall, within the first six months of entry into the position, successfully complete the core training requirements prescribed by rule of the commission for the position, or obtain a waiver or extension of the core training requirements from the  commission.

    (2) Within one year after completion of the core training requirements of this section, all law enforcement personnel shall successfully complete all remaining requirements for career level certification prescribed by rule of the commission applicable to their position or rank, or obtain a waiver or extension of the career level training requirements from the commission.

    (3) The commission shall provide the training required in this section, together with facilities, supplies, materials, and the room and board for noncommuting attendees.

    (4) Nothing in this section affects or impairs the employment status of an employee whose employer does not provide the opportunity to engage in the required training.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 10.  A new section is added to chapter 43.101 RCW to read as follows:

    By January 1st of every odd-numbered year, the commission shall provide a written report to the legislature addressing the following items:  (1) Status and satisfaction of service to its clients; (2)  detailed analysis of how it will maintain and update adequate state‑of‑the‑art training models and their delivery in the most cost‑effective and efficient manner; and (3) fiscal data projecting its current and future funding requirements.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 11.  If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 12.  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.

 


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