Title: An act relating to clarifying the ability of Washington state patrol officers to engage in private law enforcement off-duty employment in plainclothes for private benefit.

Brief Description: Clarifying the ability of Washington state patrol officers to engage in private law enforcement off-duty employment in plainclothes for private benefit.

Sponsors: Senators Haugen, Esser, Rasmussen, Delvin and McAuliffe.

Brief History:

Criminal Justice & Corrections: 3/24/05, 3/31/05 [DP].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE & CORRECTIONS

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 7 members: Representatives O'Brien, Chair; Darneille, Vice Chair; Pearson, Ranking Minority Member; Ahern, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Kagi, Kirby and Strow.

Staff: Kathryn Leathers (786-7114).

Background:

Washington State Patrol (WSP) officers may engage in private law enforcement off-duty employment in uniform for private benefit, subject to guidelines adopted by the Chief of the WSP.

Summary of Bill:

The WSP officers continue to have permission to engage in private law enforcement off-duty employment in uniform for private benefit, and are now expressly granted permission to engage in similar employment while in plainclothes. Whether in uniform or in plainclothes, this activity is subject to guidelines adopted by the Chief of the WSP.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available on companion House Bill 1232.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: The WSP is one of the best law enforcement agencies in the state, but their troops are paid the least when compared to other Washington police departments. We end up losing these officers when they make lateral transfers to other agencies. This legislation is important to the WSP because it gives these officers a better opportunity to make up for the lower pay.

Testimony Against: None.

Persons Testifying: Representative O'Brien.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: Jeff DeVere, Washington State Patrol; and Rick Jensen, Washington State Patrol Troopers Association.