Title: An act relating to the certification of tribal police officers.

Brief Description: Regarding the certification of tribal police officers.

Sponsors: Representatives O'Brien, Kirby, Strow, McCoy and B. Sullivan; by request of Criminal Justice Training Commission.

Brief History: Passed House: 1/27/06, 78-20.

Committee Activity: Judiciary: 2/21/06 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY

Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by Senators Kline, Chair; Weinstein, Vice Chair; Johnson, Ranking Minority Member; Carrell, Esser, Hargrove and Rasmussen.

Staff: Cindy Fazio (786-7405)

Background: The Criminal Justice Training Commission (CJTC) provides basic law enforcement training, corrections training, and educational programs for criminal justice personnel. Basic law enforcement officer training is generally required of all law enforcement officers employed in Washington, with the exception of volunteers and reserve officers. All law enforcement officers commissioned by the state, a county, a municipality, or a combination of any, are required to obtain and retain certification as a condition of continuing employment as a peace officer. The certification process includes a psychological examination and polygraph examination in addition to the basic law enforcement training component. The CJTC is authorized to grant, deny, or revoke all peace officer certifications. There is an appeal and hearings process available when certification has been denied or revoked.

Washington does not have a statewide certification process for tribal law enforcement officers. As a result, tribal police officer certification is not required of new police officers joining a tribal police agency or even returning tribal police officers who may have left full-time service and have later chosen to return to their careers with a police department.

Summary of Bill: The CJTC has the authority to grant, deny, or revoke the certification of tribal police officers employed by any tribal government that has voluntarily requested certification for their police officers.

A tribal government voluntarily requesting certification for their police officers must enter into a written agreement with the CJTC. The agreement must require the tribal law enforcement agency and its officers to comply with all of the requirements for granting, denying, and revoking certification as those requirements are applied to peace officers certified in the state.

A "tribal police officer" is defined as any person employed and commissioned by a tribal government to enforce the criminal laws of that government.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect on January 1, 2007.

Testimony For: None.

Testimony Against: None.

Who Testified: No one.