READ FIRST TIME 02/25/09.   

     AN ACT Relating to department of corrections training; amending RCW 43.101.220; adding a new section to chapter 43.10 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The intent of the legislature is that all corrections personnel employed by the Washington department of corrections are prepared to carry out the demands of their position that they are likely to encounter during their daily duties. The protection of the public, department employees, and inmates are a primary reason to ensure that everyone is adequately trained and knowledgeable in routine and emergency procedures.
     To best carry out this mission it is necessary for the Washington state department of corrections to have the authority, discretion, and ability to design and conduct mandatory training that best meets the needs of its changing offender population.

Sec. 2   RCW 43.101.220 and 2007 c 382 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The corrections personnel of the state and all counties and municipal corporations initially employed on or after January 1, 1982, shall engage in basic corrections training which complies with standards adopted by the commission. The training shall be successfully completed during the first six months of employment of the personnel, unless otherwise extended or waived by the commission, and shall be requisite to the continuation of employment.
     (2) The commission shall provide the training required in this section, together with facilities, supplies, materials, and the room and board for noncommuting attendees.
     (3)(a) Subsections (1) and (2) of this section do not apply to the Washington state department of corrections prisons division. The Washington state department of corrections is responsible for identifying training standards, designing curricula and programs, and providing the training for those corrections personnel employed by it. In doing so, the secretary of the department of corrections shall consult with staff development experts and correctional professionals both inside and outside of the agency, to include soliciting input from labor organizations.
     (b) The commission and the department of corrections share the responsibility of developing and defining training standards and providing training for community corrections officers employed within the community corrections division of the department of corrections.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   A new section is added to chapter 43.10 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) All new corrections personnel employed by the Washington state department of corrections shall, within a period to be determined by the secretary of the department of corrections, successfully complete core training requirements prescribed or obtain a waiver or extension of the core training requirements from the secretary.
     (2) Within a period to be determined by the secretary of the Washington state department of corrections after completion of the core training requirements of this section, corrections personnel employed by the department shall successfully complete all remaining requirements for career level certification prescribed by the secretary applicable to their position or rank, or obtain a waiver or extension of the career level training requirements from the secretary.
     (3) The secretary of the department of corrections is responsible for assuring that the training needs of the corrections personnel are met by the department's training program. Once a year, the secretary is responsible for conducting an assessment of the training programs for the corrections personnel employed by the department.