BILL REQ. #:  S-4096.1 

Read first time 01/12/2006.   Referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

     AN ACT Relating to local assistance for state narcotics task forces; and creating new sections.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   It is the intent of the legislature to provide an annual combined level of state and federal funding for multijurisdictional drug task forces and local government drug prosecution assistance at a minimum of four million dollars.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   It is the intent of the legislature to provide assistance for jurisdictions enforcing illegal drug laws that have historically been underserved by federally funded state narcotics task forces and are considered to be major transport areas of narcotics traffickers.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   Three pilot enforcement areas shall be established for a period of four fiscal years, beginning July 1, 2006, and ending June 30, 2010, with one in the southwestern region of the state, comprising of Pacific, Wahkiakum, Lewis, Grays Harbor, and Cowlitz counties; one in the southeastern region of the state, comprising of Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield, and Asotin counties; and one in the northeastern part of the state, comprising of Stevens, Ferry, Pend Oreille, and Lincoln counties. The counties comprising a specific pilot area will coordinate with each other to establish and implement a regional strategy to enforce illegal drug laws.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   It is the intent of the legislature to provide funding of no less than one million five hundred seventy-five thousand dollars annually. The funding is to be divided equally among the three pilot enforcement areas. This funding is intended to provide a minimum of four additional sheriff deputies for each pilot area, two deputy prosecutors who will support the counties that are included in the pilot area, a court clerk, and clerical staff to serve the pilot area. It is the intent of the legislature that those counties that have not previously received significant federal narcotics task force funding shall be allocated funding for at least one additional sheriff's deputy. Counties are encouraged to utilize drug courts and treatment programs, and to share resources that operate in the region through the use of interlocal agreements. The funding appropriated for this purpose must not be used to supplant existing funding and cannot be used for any purpose other than the enforcement of illegal drug laws.
     The criminal justice training commission will allocate funds to the Washington association of prosecuting attorneys and the Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs. The Washington association of prosecuting attorneys is responsible for administration of the funding and programs for the prosecution of crimes and court proceedings. The Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs shall administer the funds provided for law enforcement.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   The Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs, the Washington association of prosecuting attorneys, and the Washington association of county officials shall jointly develop measures to determine the efficacy of the programs in the pilot area. These measures will include comparison of arrest rates before the implementation of this act and after, reduction of recidivism, and any other factors that are determined to be relevant to evaluation of the programs. The organizations named in this section will present their findings to the legislature by December 1, 2008.