HB 2506

Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research	BILL ANALYSIS

Public Safety & Emergency Preparedness Committee

HB 2506

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Description: Creating the Washington joint analytical center.

Sponsors: Representative O'Brien.

Brief Summary of Bill

Requires the Washington State Patrol to and operate a Washington Joint Analytical Center.

Appropriates $4.6 million to the Washington State Patrol to fund the Washington Joint Analytical Center.

Hearing Date: 1/17/08

Staff: Yvonne Walker (786-7841).

Background:

In 2003 the Washington Joint Analytical Center (WAJAC) was created as a result of the Statewide Integrated Intelligence Proposal (proposal). The proposal was developed by the Governor's Intelligence Subcommittee on Homeland Security in conjunction with the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC), the Washington State Patrol (WSP), and the Seattle division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The proposal was a joint effort to maximize law enforcement efforts to prevent crime as well as to gather, analyze, and share intelligence information on terrorists and other organized criminal groups located in Washington.

The WAJAC, located in the Seattle division of the FBI, is comprised of a central anti-terrorism intelligence analytical center and nine regional intelligence groups located through the state. Tips on criminal activity are often received by the WAJAC, the FBI, and various law enforcement agencies via phone and electronic mail. That information is collected, processed, and passed on to the WAJAC. If further analysis or investigation is needed, the WAJAC notifies the appropriate local law enforcement agency if it is a local matter or the FBI if it is a federal issue. The WAJAC maintains a confidential database with all information gathered, however there is a reciprocal exchange of information collected regarding terrorists and other organized criminal groups among the law enforcement agencies participating in the WAJAC.

Summary of Bill:

The WSP is required to create, organize, and operate the WAJAC. The WAJAC is responsible for the following:

serving as the state's central center for all terrorism-related information;
working cooperatively with the WASPC in order to collect and analyze information to develop actionable intelligence;
creating and maintaining seamless and ongoing partnerships with federal, state, local, and tribal agencies, as well as private entities; and
working cooperatively with the WASPC in order to increase better information interchange between local, state, and federal law enforcement and criminal justice agencies.

An appropriation of $4.6 million is made from the General Fund to the WSP to fund the WAJAC program.

Appropriation: The sum of $4.6 million.

Fiscal Note: Requested on January 9, 2008.

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