SENATE BILL REPORT

HB 2942

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.

Sponsors: Representatives O'Brien, Pearson, Dickerson, Goodman, Ericks, Roberts, Kelley, Finn, Appleton, McCoy, Springer, Darneille, Hurst, Priest, Hinkle, Clibborn, Liias, Hope, Klippert, Herrera, Ormsby, Morrell, Conway, Santos, Johnson, Kenney, Hasegawa and McCune.

Background: The Criminal Justice Training Commission (CJTC) was established in 1974. Its primary purpose is to provide basic law enforcement training, corrections training, and educational programs for criminal justice personnel, including commissioned officers, corrections officers, fire marshals, and prosecuting attorneys.

Basic law enforcement officer training is generally required of all law enforcement officers, with the exception of volunteers, and reserve officers employed in Washington. The training consists of a 720-hour program covering a wide variety of subjects including: constitutional and criminal law and procedures, criminal investigation, firearms training, and communication and writing skills. All law enforcement personnel hired, transferred, or promoted are required to complete the core training requirements within six months unless the employee receives a waiver from the CJTC.

Human trafficking can generally be defined as any act that involves the recruitment or transportation of a person, within or across national borders, for work or services, by means of violence or threat of violence, debt bondage, deception, or other coercion. A person may be trafficked for a number of reasons including forced prostitution, exploitative domestic service in private homes, and indentured servitude in sweatshops.

Summary of Bill: The CJTC must offer training on the subject of human trafficking to all criminal justice and correctional personnel and all employees of state and local agencies that perform public safety duties.

The CJTC must consult with other appropriate public and private organizations that have expertise on the subject of reducing and preventing human trafficking. The training must include a minimum of one hour of classroom or Internet instruction on:

how to identify suspicious illegal human trafficking activities; and
suggestions on where victims of human trafficking can get healthcare, human services, housing, education, legal assistance, job training, interpreting services, language classes, and victim's compensation.