HB 2539

Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research	BILL ANALYSIS

Public Safety & Emergency Preparedness Committee

HB 2539

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: Concerning methamphetamine task forces.

Sponsors: Representatives O'Brien, VanDeWege, Green, Simpson and Loomis.

Brief Summary of Bill

Requires the Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development (DCTED) to accept applications and distribute grants for the operation of local methamphetamine task forces.

Appropriates $1 million to the DCTED for providing the methamphetamine grants to local methamphetamine task forces.

Hearing Date: 1/2/08

Staff: Yvonne Walker (786-7841).

Background:

Methamphetamine is a highly addictive substance that affects the central nervous system. Over the last several years the Washington Legislature has placed restrictions on not only the sale and distribution of items that are used to manufacture methamphetamine but has also increased penalties for those convicted of manufacturing, delivering, or possessing methamphetamine.

Many local law enforcement agencies have created methamphetamine task forces to help combat the problem of methamphetamine and to help raise awareness to the resources that are available to communities and those individuals struggling with a methamphetamine addiction.

The Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development (DCTED) provides technical and financial assistance to local governments and community-based organizations. Among other responsibilities, the DCTED solicits and allocates federal funding for local drug task forces.

In the 2005-07 biennium, the DCTED distributed approximately $9.5 million in federal funding to support multi-jurisdictional narcotics task forces and other law enforcement needs. Of that total amount, a portion of the funding was distributed as follows:

approximately $4.1 million to local units of government to continue multi-jurisdictional narcotics task forces;
approximately $660,000 to the Drug Prosecution Assistance Program in support of multi-jurisdictional narcotics task forces; and
approximately $1.4 million to the Washington State Patrol (WSP) for support to multi-jurisdictional narcotics task forces and for methamphetamine education and response.

Summary of Bill:

The DCTED must accept grant applications from local law enforcement agencies seeking funding for the costs associated with the operation of a methamphetamine task force.

Each jurisdiction applying for funds is required to make a dollar-for-dollar match, using either cash resources or in-kind funds, before seeking state funds for a methamphetamine task force. Grants awarded must be used solely for the operation costs associated with the methamphetamine task force and must supplement, not supplant, existing methamphetamine task force funds and resources. Local law enforcement agencies are encouraged to consider regional agreements for the efficient delivery of distributed funds.

Grant awards are limited to those law enforcement agencies located in counties with populations of less than 400,000. Award grant recipients receiving a grant may not receive more than one grant per biennium.

A total of $1 million is appropriated from the General Fund to the DCTED to fund the local methamphetamine grants.

Appropriation: The sum of $1 million.

Fiscal Note: Requested on January 15, 2008.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed. However, the bill is null and void unless funded in the budget.