SENATE BILL REPORT
SHB 1607
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.
As Reported By Senate Committee On:
Human Services & Corrections, March 23, 2007
Title: An act relating to corrections personnel training.
Brief Description: Revising corrections personnel training provisions.
Sponsors: House Committee on Public Safety & Emergency Preparedness (originally sponsored by Representatives O'Brien, Lovick, Pearson and Strow; by request of Criminal Justice Training Commission).
Brief History: Passed House: 2/28/07, 97-0.
Committee Activity: Human Services & Corrections: 3/15/07, 3/23/07 [DPA].
SENATE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES & CORRECTIONS
Majority Report: Do pass as amended.Signed by Senators Hargrove, Chair; Regala, Vice Chair; Stevens, Ranking Minority Member; Brandland and McAuliffe.
Staff: Kiki Keizer (786-7430)
Background: The Corrections Reform Act of 1981 (CRA) established the Department of
Corrections as a separate department of state government, with a secretary appointed by the
Governor and confirmed by the Senate. The CRA also included provisions designed to reform
inmate work programs and establish correctional standards.
The CRA required mandatory minimum staff training for corrections personnel of the state and
all counties employed on or after January 1, 1982, and all corrections personnel promoted to
supervisory or management positions after that date. The basic corrections training required by
the CRA was to be adopted by the Criminal Justice Training Commission (CJTC).
Summary of Substitute Bill: Corrections personnel who receive core training must complete
certification requirements, prescribed by rule of the Criminal Justice Training Commission,
within a year of completing core training. The training requirement for corrections personnel is
moved to a section of the statutes concerning law enforcement core training requirements.
A statutory provision, stating that persons' employment statuses will not be impaired if their
employers do not provide opportunities to engage in the required training, is eliminated.
A reference to a section of the statutes that has been repealed is eliminated.
EFFECT OF CHANGES MADE BY RECOMMENDED AMENDMENT(S) AS PASSED COMMITTEE (Human Services & Corrections): Statutory language is restored, such that the employment status of a person, whose employer does not provide the opportunity for training, is not impaired.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: The certification covered by the bill is a training requirement for career level certification for corrections officers. It does not contemplate licensure or the certification and decertification process that is used for law enforcement officers.
Persons Testifying: PRO: Carri Brezonick, Criminal Justice Training Commission.