BILL REQ. #:  H-1623.1 

READ FIRST TIME 02/22/05.   

     AN ACT Relating to training regarding the use of force and physical restraints for school building administrators and other school security personnel; adding a new section to chapter 28A.300 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 28A.600 RCW; and creating new sections.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 28A.300 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) By March 30, 2006, the superintendent of public instruction shall, in consultation with the Washington state school safety center advisory committee and the criminal justice training commission, develop a model policy and training standards and requirements for school building administrators and other school security personnel relative to the use of force and physical restraint in the common schools. The superintendent shall report to the appropriate committees of the legislature regarding the model training standards and requirements for school building administrators and other school security personnel relative to the use of force and physical restraint. The superintendent and advisory committee also shall recommend:
     (a) Options for the structure and delivery of training throughout the state;
     (b) Accountability measures for the training required under section 3 of this act; and
     (c) A model for ongoing review and oversight of the training standards by the advisory committee.
     (2) The model policy and training standards shall be developed with input from school safety stakeholders, including, but not limited to, organizations that represent the interests of: (a) School boards; (b) school administrators; (c) principals; (d) school security professionals; (e) law enforcement; (f) prosecutors; (g) risk managers; (h) parents; (i) victim assistance advocates; (j) human rights advocates; (k) legal defense specialists; (l) teachers and instructional paraprofessionals; (m) classified school employees; (n) special education administrators and personnel; (o) school safety training; (p) pediatric and adolescent health care specialists; (q) mental health providers; and (r) other organizations deemed relevant by the superintendent. Human rights advocates under this section shall include representation from the Washington human rights commission.
     (3) By March 30, 2006, the model policy and training standards and requirements developed under this section shall be made available to serve as guidance to school districts and educational service districts and shall be posted on the superintendent of public instruction's web site.
     (4) For purposes of this section, "school security personnel" means persons, other than commissioned law enforcement officers, who provide security services at a school, including independent contractors hired by a school or school district.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   (1) By March 30, 2006, the superintendent of public instruction and the criminal justice training commission, in consultation with the school safety advisory committee, shall disseminate a schedule of regional training sessions, addressing the training standards developed under section 1 of this act. Training sessions shall be made available to school safety and security personnel from May 1, 2006, through December 31, 2006.
     (2) By December 1, 2006, the superintendent of public instruction shall, in collaboration with the criminal justice training commission and the school safety advisory committee, present to appropriate committees of the legislature a plan for full implementation of the training standards and requirements developed under section 1 of this act. The plan shall include training content and costs associated with the ongoing training of school security personnel, school administrators, and other relevant school personnel.
     (3) The definition of "school security personnel" in section 1 of this act applies in this section.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   A new section is added to chapter 28A.600 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) By September 1, 2007, each school district board of directors shall adopt a policy and identify district personnel in need of training regarding the use of force and physical restraint. District policies under this section should be tailored to reflect the contexts of the district's elementary, middle, and high schools, and may be incorporated into existing district policies regarding student conduct, discipline, and rights adopted pursuant and into procedures for administering discipline developed under this chapter. Districts are encouraged to adopt or amend policies through a process that includes representation of parents or guardians, school employees, volunteers, students, administrators, and community members that represent the diversity within the community and school populations.
     (2) Beginning in the 2005-06 school year, each school district board of directors in which one or more schools employs an independent contractor to meet its security and safety needs shall, in collaboration with the appropriate building administrator, inquire and be informed about an independent contractor's policy regarding the use of force and physical restraint in the school building in which the contractor provides services.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   If specific funding for the purposes of this act, referencing this act by bill or chapter number, is not provided by June 30, 2005, in the omnibus appropriations act, this act is null and void.