[atlas:bill]

AN ACT Relating to creating a certification process and oversight mechanism for police service dog teams; reenacting and amending RCW 42.17.310; adding a new chapter to Title 43 RCW; making an appropriation; and providing an effective date.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. It is the intent of this act to enhance public safety and the quality of law enforcement. The legislature finds these goals may be achieved by establishing a minimum standard of performance for working police service dog teams and a procedure for certification of teams. The legislature further finds it necessary to create an oversight mechanism to promote efficient and responsible implementation of the certification process.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

(1) "Canine training standards board" or "board" means the board established by the commission under section 5 of this act.

(2) "Certified" means a determination by the commission that a police service dog team has met the minimum standard.

(3) "Commission" means the Washington state criminal justice training commission.

(4) "Handler" means a person who is responsible for the routine care, control, and utilization of a police service dog for law enforcement purposes and is:

(a) Any commissioned law enforcement officer of an agency, including a state, county, city, municipality, or a combination thereof or an employee of the Washington state department of corrections;

(b) A person contracted to provide law enforcement services; or

(5) "Law enforcement purposes" means detection of contraband or evidence and apprehension of criminal suspects.

(6) "Master trainer" means a person who meets the criteria established in rule by the commission following consultation with individuals and groups with experience and expertise in training and handling police service dogs.

(7) "Police service dog" means a dog assigned or used by a handler for law enforcement purposes.

(8) "Police service dog team" or "team" means a dog and handler that is certified as a team.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. (1) A police service dog handler may not use a police service dog for law enforcement purposes unless the handler and dog are certified as a team, except as otherwise provided in this section.

(2) Any dog team provided to assist in law enforcement purposes is exempt from the certification requirement of this act only if: (a) The dog is owned by, and acts under the control of, an agency of the federal government which engages in law enforcement purposes; (b) the team is provided on a temporary basis not exceeding forty-eight hours; and (c) the dog and its handler meet the internal minimum performance standards of the agency of the federal government which owns or controls the dog.

(3) If any law enforcement agency is, prior to August 1, 2002, utilizing a police service dog and a handler for law enforcement purposes, the agency may continue the use until March 1, 2003. After March 1, 2003, the dog and handler must be certified as a team to be used for law enforcement purposes.

(4) Any law enforcement agency that has not, prior to August 1, 2002, utilized a police service dog and a handler for law enforcement purposes must obtain certification before deploying a team.

(5) Upon determination by the commission that a law enforcement agency or the department of corrections has deployed a police service dog and handler not certified pursuant to this chapter, the commission may issue an order directing the agency or department to immediately cease the unauthorized deployment.

(6) If the agency or department does not discontinue the unauthorized deployment, the commission may seek appropriate injunctive relief in the superior court of the county in which the agency or department is located.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. (1) The commission is directed to develop a minimum performance standard for each category of police service dog and handler, with the categories being derived from the law enforcement functions that the police service dogs and handlers perform. Each police service dog and handler must meet the standard for its category in order to become a team.

(2) The commission is directed to implement a process through which police service dogs and their handlers will be tested for certification. The commission is authorized to charge a fee for the purpose of conducting certification tests.

(3) The commission shall establish minimum training hours for police service dogs and handlers that must be completed prior to testing for certification. Prior to testing a police service dog and a handler for certification, the chief of police, sheriff, secretary of corrections, or chief of the Washington state patrol must submit an affidavit verifying that the required hours of training have been successfully completed by the police service dog and handler.

(4) The initial certification of police service dog teams is valid for one year. Recertification shall be valid for a period of time as determined by the commission.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. (1) The commission is directed to create the canine training standards board. The commission is directed to endeavor to ensure the composition of the board will include persons experienced with patrol, detector, and tracking police service dogs. The board shall, in consultation with the board on law enforcement training standards and education, set minimum performance standards and develop model training and performance standards for police service dogs and handlers. The model training and model performance standards may be used by local jurisdictions in developing their own canine programs.

(2) The board shall review disputes related to the certification of police service dog teams and make recommendations to the commission.

(3) The board shall be comprised of:

(a) A representative of the Washington state patrol with police service dog experience;

(b) A representative of the department of corrections with police service dog experience;

(c) A representative of a nonprofit organization in Washington with expertise and experience in the training and evaluating of patrol, detector, and tracking police service dogs and handlers;

(d) A representative of a nationwide nonprofit organization with experience and expertise in the humane treatment of dogs;

(e) A master trainer from a county with a population of two hundred fifty thousand or more appointed by the Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs in consultation with the Washington council of police and sheriffs and the bargaining unit representing commissioned officers in any county with a population of one million or more;

(f) A representative of the county legislative authority appointed by the presiding officer of the Washington association of counties from a county with a population of two hundred fifty thousand or more that deploys a police service dog and handler for law enforcement purposes and, after March 1, 2003, is certified as a team;

(g) A master trainer from a city with a population of one hundred thousand or more appointed by the Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs in consultation with the Washington council of police and sheriffs and the bargaining unit representing commissioned officers in any city with a population of four hundred thousand or more;

(h) A representative of the association of Washington cities appointed by the presiding officer of the association of Washington cities from a city with a population of one hundred thousand or more that deploys a police service dog and handler for law enforcement purposes and, after March 1, 2003, is certified as a team;

(i) Two persons, one with police service dog experience, appointed by the association of Washington cities from a city with a population of less than one hundred thousand;

(j) Two persons, one with police service dog experience, appointed by the Washington association of counties from a county with a population of less than two hundred fifty thousand;

(k) One representative to be appointed by the governor.

Prior to making the appointments requiring police service dog experience in (i) and (j) of this subsection, the Washington association of counties and the association of Washington cities shall consult with the Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs and the Washington council of police and sheriffs.

(4) The board is a class 1 group under RCW 43.03.220 except that any member of the public appointed to the board is eligible for compensation under RCW 43.03.240(2).

(5) The members of the board shall serve three-year terms and shall serve until qualified successors are appointed. However, the commission shall by rule provide shorter initial terms for some of the members of the board to stagger the expiration of the initial terms so that approximately equal numbers of members' terms will expire each year.

(6) The board shall hold its initial meeting not later than November 1, 2001.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. (1) Any person claiming to be aggrieved by an act relating to the certification of a police service dog team may, personally or by his or her attorney, make, sign, and file with the commission a complaint in writing under oath or by declaration. The commission does not have jurisdiction to hear a complaint alleging negligent conduct by a certified team while engaged in law enforcement purposes.

(2) Any complaint filed pursuant to this section must be filed within thirty days after the alleged act giving rise to the complaint relating to certification of a police service dog team.

(3) After the filing of any complaint, the chairperson of the commission shall refer it to the appropriate section of the commission's staff for prompt investigation and ascertainment of the facts alleged in the complaint. The results of the investigation shall be reduced to written findings of fact and a copy shall be provided to the complainant.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. (1) The entire file, including the complaint and any and all findings made, shall be certified to the chairperson of the commission. The chairperson of the commission may thereupon request the appointment of an administrative law judge under Title 34 RCW to hear the complaint if the chairperson believes from the results of the investigation that there are reasonable grounds to conclude that a violation of this chapter may have occurred. If the chairperson requests the appointment of an administrative law judge, he or she shall cause to be issued and served in the name of the commission a written notice, together with a copy of the complaint, as the same may have been amended, requiring the parties to appear and on the complaint at a hearing before the administrative law judge, at a time and place to be specified in such notice.

(2) The place of any such hearing may be the office of the commission or another place designated by it. The case in support of the complaint shall be presented at the hearing by counsel for the commission: PROVIDED, That the complainant may retain independent counsel and submit testimony and be fully heard. No member or employee of the commission who previously participated in the denial of certification shall participate in the hearing except as a witness, nor shall the member or employee participate in the deliberations of the administrative law judge in such case.

(3) The commission shall file a written answer to the complaint and appear at the hearing in person or otherwise, with or without counsel, and submit testimony and be fully heard. The commission has the right to cross-examine the complainant.

(4) The administrative law judge conducting any hearing may permit reasonable amendment to any complaint or answer. Testimony taken at the hearing shall be under oath and recorded.

(5) If, upon all the evidence, the administrative law judge finds that the commission has wrongfully denied certification, the administrative law judge shall state findings of fact and shall issue and file with the commission and cause to be served on the commission an order requiring the commission to certify the police service dog team.

(6) The final order of the administrative law judge shall include a notice to the parties of the right to obtain judicial review of the order by appeal in accordance with the provisions of RCW 34.05.510 through 34.05.598, and that such appeal must be served and filed within thirty days after the service of the order on the parties.

(7) If, upon all the evidence, the administrative law judge finds that the commission correctly denied certification, the administrative law judge shall state findings of fact and shall similarly issue and file an order dismissing the complaint.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. (1) Every police service dog used by law enforcement or any other state or local governmental agency is required to be identified by a microchip as defined in RCW 16.57.010(13) or through the use of superior technology as designated by the commission.

(2) The microchip of any police service dog used by a state or local governmental agency may not be removed except for medical necessity. If it is necessary to remove the microchip, the reason for the removal must be documented, entered into the data base created by section 9 of this act, and a new microchip inserted unless the dog is permanently retired from service.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. (1) The commission is directed to develop and manage a centralized data base of information pertaining to all police service dogs used by Washington state and local governmental agencies. The data base shall be cumulative, updated, and contain the following information for each police service dog:

(a) Identification as required in section 8(1) of this act;

(b) Name;

(d) Type of training:

(i) G = Generalist;

(ii) N = Narcotic;

(iii) B = Bomb;

(iv) Xn = Cross-trained narcotic;

(v) Xb = Cross-trained bomb;

(vi) O = Other;

(e) Date acquired;

(f) Source of acquisition:

(i) Vendor name, address, and telephone number;

(ii) Donated by private person, nonprofit entity, or other;

(g) Handler's name;

(h) Date of certification and recertifications;

(i) Date and reason released from service.

(2) Except as provided in RCW 42.17.310, the commission shall make this data base available through a web page and accessible by entering a dog's identification number as required in section 8(1) of this act.

(3) All records pertaining to training, utilization, and certification from acquisition to first certification pertaining to police service dogs are required to be kept by the agency with ownership of the police service dog and made available upon request.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 10. The commission shall adopt rules to implement this chapter.

Sec. 11. RCW 42.17.310 and 2000 c 134 s 3, 2000 c 56 s 1, and 2000 c 6 s 5 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:

(1) The following are exempt from public inspection and copying:

(a) Personal information in any files maintained for students in public schools, patients or clients of public institutions or public health agencies, or welfare recipients.

(b) Personal information in files maintained for employees, appointees, or elected officials of any public agency to the extent that disclosure would violate their right to privacy.

(c) Information required of any taxpayer in connection with the assessment or collection of any tax if the disclosure of the information to other persons would (i) be prohibited to such persons by RCW 84.08.210, 82.32.330, 84.40.020, or 84.40.340 or (ii) violate the taxpayer's right to privacy or result in unfair competitive disadvantage to the taxpayer.

(d) Specific intelligence information and specific investigative records compiled by investigative, law enforcement, and penology agencies, and state agencies vested with the responsibility to discipline members of any profession, the nondisclosure of which is essential to effective law enforcement or for the protection of any person's right to privacy.

(e) Information revealing the identity of persons who are witnesses to or victims of crime or who file complaints with investigative, law enforcement, or penology agencies, other than the public disclosure commission, if disclosure would endanger any person's life, physical safety, or property. If at the time a complaint is filed the complainant, victim or witness indicates a desire for disclosure or nondisclosure, such desire shall govern. However, all complaints filed with the public disclosure commission about any elected official or candidate for public office must be made in writing and signed by the complainant under oath.

(f) Test questions, scoring keys, and other examination data used to administer a license, employment, or academic examination.

(g) Except as provided by chapter 8.26 RCW, the contents of real estate appraisals, made for or by any agency relative to the acquisition or sale of property, until the project or prospective sale is abandoned or until such time as all of the property has been acquired or the property to which the sale appraisal relates is sold, but in no event shall disclosure be denied for more than three years after the appraisal.

(h) Valuable formulae, designs, drawings, computer source code or object code, and research data obtained by any agency within five years of the request for disclosure when disclosure would produce private gain and public loss.

(i) Preliminary drafts, notes, recommendations, and intra-agency memorandums in which opinions are expressed or policies formulated or recommended except that a specific record shall not be exempt when publicly cited by an agency in connection with any agency action.

(j) Records which are relevant to a controversy to which an agency is a party but which records would not be available to another party under the rules of pretrial discovery for causes pending in the superior courts.

(k) Records, maps, or other information identifying the location of archaeological sites in order to avoid the looting or depredation of such sites.

(l) Any library record, the primary purpose of which is to maintain control of library materials, or to gain access to information, which discloses or could be used to disclose the identity of a library user.

(m) Financial information supplied by or on behalf of a person, firm, or corporation for the purpose of qualifying to submit a bid or proposal for (i) a ferry system construction or repair contract as required by RCW 47.60.680 through 47.60.750 or (ii) highway construction or improvement as required by RCW 47.28.070.

(n) Railroad company contracts filed prior to July 28, 1991, with the utilities and transportation commission under RCW 81.34.070, except that the summaries of the contracts are open to public inspection and copying as otherwise provided by this chapter.

(o) Financial and commercial information and records supplied by private persons pertaining to export services provided pursuant to chapter 43.163 RCW and chapter 53.31 RCW, and by persons pertaining to export projects pursuant to RCW 43.23.035.

(p) Financial disclosures filed by private vocational schools under chapters 28B.85 and 28C.10 RCW.

(q) Records filed with the utilities and transportation commission or attorney general under RCW 80.04.095 that a court has determined are confidential under RCW 80.04.095.

(r) Financial and commercial information and records supplied by businesses or individuals during application for loans or program services provided by chapters 43.163, 43.160, 43.330, and 43.168 RCW, or during application for economic development loans or program services provided by any local agency.

(s) Membership lists or lists of members or owners of interests of units in timeshare projects, subdivisions, camping resorts, condominiums, land developments, or common-interest communities affiliated with such projects, regulated by the department of licensing, in the files or possession of the department.

(t) All applications for public employment, including the names of applicants, resumes, and other related materials submitted with respect to an applicant.

(u) The residential addresses and residential telephone numbers of employees or volunteers of a public agency which are held by the agency in personnel records, employment or volunteer rosters, or mailing lists of employees or volunteers.

(v) The residential addresses and residential telephone numbers of the customers of a public utility contained in the records or lists held by the public utility of which they are customers, except that this information may be released to the division of child support or the agency or firm providing child support enforcement for another state under Title IV-D of the federal social security act, for the establishment, enforcement, or modification of a support order.

(w)(i) The federal social security number of individuals governed under chapter 18.130 RCW maintained in the files of the department of health, except this exemption does not apply to requests made directly to the department from federal, state, and local agencies of government, and national and state licensing, credentialing, investigatory, disciplinary, and examination organizations; (ii) the current residential address and current residential telephone number of a health care provider governed under chapter 18.130 RCW maintained in the files of the department, if the provider requests that this information be withheld from public inspection and copying, and provides to the department an accurate alternate or business address and business telephone number. On or after January 1, 1995, the current residential address and residential telephone number of a health care provider governed under RCW 18.130.040 maintained in the files of the department shall automatically be withheld from public inspection and copying unless the provider specifically requests the information be released, and except as provided for under RCW 42.17.260(9).

(x) Information obtained by the board of pharmacy as provided in RCW 69.45.090.

(y) Information obtained by the board of pharmacy or the department of health and its representatives as provided in RCW 69.41.044, 69.41.280, and 18.64.420.

(z) Financial information, business plans, examination reports, and any information produced or obtained in evaluating or examining a business and industrial development corporation organized or seeking certification under chapter 31.24 RCW.

(aa) Financial and commercial information supplied to the state investment board by any person when the information relates to the investment of public trust or retirement funds and when disclosure would result in loss to such funds or in private loss to the providers of this information.

(bb) Financial and valuable trade information under RCW 51.36.120.

(cc) Client records maintained by an agency that is a domestic violence program as defined in RCW 70.123.020 or 70.123.075 or a rape crisis center as defined in RCW 70.125.030.

(dd) Information that identifies a person who, while an agency employee: (i) Seeks advice, under an informal process established by the employing agency, in order to ascertain his or her rights in connection with a possible unfair practice under chapter 49.60 RCW against the person; and (ii) requests his or her identity or any identifying information not be disclosed.

(ee) Investigative records compiled by an employing agency conducting a current investigation of a possible unfair practice under chapter 49.60 RCW or of a possible violation of other federal, state, or local laws prohibiting discrimination in employment.

(ff) Business related information protected from public inspection and copying under RCW 15.86.110.

(gg) Financial, commercial, operations, and technical and research information and data submitted to or obtained by the clean Washington center in applications for, or delivery of, program services under chapter 70.95H RCW.

(hh) Information and documents created specifically for, and collected and maintained by a quality improvement committee pursuant to RCW 43.70.510 or 70.41.200, or by a peer review committee under RCW 4.24.250, regardless of which agency is in possession of the information and documents.

(ii) Personal information in files maintained in a data base created under RCW 43.07.360.

(jj) Financial and commercial information requested by the public stadium authority from any person or organization that leases or uses the stadium and exhibition center as defined in RCW 36.102.010.

(kk) Names of individuals residing in emergency or transitional housing that are furnished to the department of revenue or a county assessor in order to substantiate a claim for property tax exemption under RCW 84.36.043.

(ll) The names, residential addresses, residential telephone numbers, and other individually identifiable records held by an agency in relation to a vanpool, carpool, or other ride-sharing program or service. However, these records may be disclosed to other persons who apply for ride-matching services and who need that information in order to identify potential riders or drivers with whom to share rides.

(mm) The personally identifying information of current or former participants or applicants in a paratransit or other transit service operated for the benefit of persons with disabilities or elderly persons.

(nn) The personally identifying information of persons who acquire and use transit passes and other fare payment media including, but not limited to, stored value smart cards and magnetic strip cards, except that an agency may disclose this information to a person, employer, educational institution, or other entity that is responsible, in whole or in part, for payment of the cost of acquiring or using a transit pass or other fare payment media, or to the news media when reporting on public transportation or public safety. This information may also be disclosed at the agency's discretion to governmental agencies or groups concerned with public transportation or public safety.

(oo) Proprietary financial and commercial information that the submitting entity, with review by the department of health, specifically identifies at the time it is submitted and that is provided to or obtained by the department of health in connection with an application for, or the supervision of, an antitrust exemption sought by the submitting entity under RCW 43.72.310. If a request for such information is received, the submitting entity must be notified of the request. Within ten business days of receipt of the notice, the submitting entity shall provide a written statement of the continuing need for confidentiality, which shall be provided to the requester. Upon receipt of such notice, the department of health shall continue to treat information designated under this section as exempt from disclosure. If the requester initiates an action to compel disclosure under this chapter, the submitting entity must be joined as a party to demonstrate the continuing need for confidentiality.

(pp) Records maintained by the board of industrial insurance appeals that are related to appeals of crime victims' compensation claims filed with the board under RCW 7.68.110.

(qq) Financial and commercial information supplied by or on behalf of a person, firm, corporation, or entity under chapter 28B.95 RCW relating to the purchase or sale of tuition units and contracts for the purchase of multiple tuition units.

(rr) Any records of investigative reports prepared by any state, county, municipal, or other law enforcement agency pertaining to sex offenses contained in chapter 9A.44 RCW or sexually violent offenses as defined in RCW 71.09.020, which have been transferred to the Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs for permanent electronic retention and retrieval pursuant to RCW 40.14.070(2)(b).

(ss) Credit card numbers, debit card numbers, electronic check numbers, card expiration dates, or bank or other financial account numbers supplied to an agency for the purpose of electronic transfer of funds, except when disclosure is expressly required by law.

(tt) Financial information, including but not limited to account numbers and values, and other identification numbers supplied by or on behalf of a person, firm, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or other entity related to an application for a liquor license, gambling license, or lottery retail license.

(uu) Records maintained by the employment security department and subject to chapter 50.13 RCW if provided to another individual or organization for operational, research, or evaluation purposes.

(vv) Individually identifiable information received by the work force training and education coordinating board for research or evaluation purposes.

(ww) Information collected pursuant to section 9(1)(d) (iii) and (v) of this act.

(2) Except for information described in subsection (1)(c)(i) of this section and confidential income data exempted from public inspection pursuant to RCW 84.40.020, the exemptions of this section are inapplicable to the extent that information, the disclosure of which would violate personal privacy or vital governmental interests, can be deleted from the specific records sought. No exemption may be construed to permit the nondisclosure of statistical information not descriptive of any readily identifiable person or persons.

(3) Inspection or copying of any specific records exempt under the provisions of this section may be permitted if the superior court in the county in which the record is maintained finds, after a hearing with notice thereof to every person in interest and the agency, that the exemption of such records is clearly unnecessary to protect any individual's right of privacy or any vital governmental function.

(4) Agency responses refusing, in whole or in part, inspection of any public record shall include a statement of the specific exemption authorizing the withholding of the record (or part) and a brief explanation of how the exemption applies to the record withheld.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 12. Sections 1 through 10 of this act constitute a new chapter in Title 43 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 13. The sum of . . . . . . dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2003, from the general fund to the criminal justice training commission for the purposes of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 14. This act takes effect August 1, 2001.