BILL REQ. #:  H-4090.3 

Read first time 01/17/2006.   Referred to Committee on Criminal Justice & Corrections.

     AN ACT Relating to clarifying and making technical amendments to the prehire screening process for law enforcement applicants; amending RCW 43.101.095; and declaring an emergency.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 43.101.095 and 2005 c 434 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) As a condition of continuing employment as peace officers, all Washington peace officers: (a) Shall timely obtain certification as peace officers, or timely obtain certification or exemption therefrom, by meeting all requirements of RCW 43.101.200, as that section is administered under the rules of the commission, as well by meeting any additional requirements under this chapter; and (b) shall maintain the basic certification as peace officers under this chapter.
     (2)(a) As a condition of continuing employment for any applicant that has been offered a conditional offer of employment as a fully commissioned peace officer or a reserve officer after July 24, 2005, ((including any person whose certification has lapsed as a result of a break of more than twenty-four consecutive months in the officer's service as a fully commissioned peace officer or reserve officer,)) the applicant shall successfully pass a psychological examination and a polygraph or similar test as administered by the county, city, or state law enforcement agency that complies with the following requirements:
     (i) The psychological examination shall be administered by a psychiatrist licensed in the state of Washington pursuant to chapter 18.71 RCW or a psychologist licensed in the state of Washington pursuant to chapter 18.83 RCW. The examination shall consist of, at a minimum, a standardized clinical test that is widely used as an objective clinical screening tool for personality and psychosocial disorders. The test that is used and the conditions under which the test is administered, scored, and interpreted must comply with accepted psychological standards. Additional tests may be administered at the option of the employing law enforcement agency.
     (ii) The polygraph examination ((or similar assessment)) shall be administered by an experienced polygrapher who is a graduate of a polygraph school accredited by the American polygraph association. Similar tests used in place of the polygraph shall be conducted by an experienced and certified examiner of that particular test.
     (b) The employing county, city, or state law enforcement agency may require that each peace officer or reserve officer who is required to take a psychological examination and a polygraph or similar test pay a portion of the testing fee based on the actual cost of the test or four hundred dollars, whichever is less. County, city, and state law enforcement agencies may establish a payment plan if they determine that the peace officer or reserve officer does not readily have the means to pay for his or her portion of the testing fee.
     (3) The commission shall certify peace officers who have satisfied, or have been exempted by statute or by rule from, the basic training requirements of RCW 43.101.200 on or before January 1, 2002. Thereafter, the commission may revoke certification pursuant to this chapter.
     (4) The commission shall allow a peace officer to retain status as a certified peace officer as long as the officer: (a) Timely meets the basic law enforcement training requirements, or is exempted therefrom, in whole or in part, under RCW 43.101.200 or under rule of the commission; (b) meets or is exempted from any other requirements under this chapter as administered under the rules adopted by the commission; (c) is not denied certification by the commission under this chapter; and (d) has not had certification revoked by the commission.
     (5) As a prerequisite to certification, as well as a prerequisite to pursuit of a hearing under RCW 43.101.155, a peace officer must, on a form devised or adopted by the commission, authorize the release to the commission of his or her personnel files, termination papers, criminal investigation files, or other files, papers, or information that are directly related to a certification matter or decertification matter before the commission.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   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.