BILL REQ. #:  S-3660.1 

Read first time 01/20/14.   Referred to Committee on Human Services & Corrections.

     AN ACT Relating to a comprehensive review of staff safety at the department of corrections; creating new sections; and providing an expiration date.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds it is essential that the department of corrections use public resources effectively in order to carry out the department's mission of improving public safety and ensuring staff members are safe in their work environments. The legislature further finds that an independent, comprehensive, and objective review of staffing levels and staff safety measures at the department of corrections is critical to evaluating potential needs the legislature should address to best assist the department in achieving its mission.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   (1) The office of financial management shall contract with consultants with the requisite experience and expertise to perform an evidence-based study and progress report of staffing ratios and safety assessments in department of corrections facilities. The office of financial management and the consultants shall consult with the department of corrections, stakeholder groups that represent the people who are served in these institutions, labor organizations that represent employees who work in these institutions, and other persons or entities with experience and expertise in the areas being studied.
     (2) For the purposes of the study, "department of corrections facilities" means facilities operated by the department of corrections to house persons convicted of a criminal offense who are in full confinement.
     (3) In conducting the study, consultants shall consider the following factors as appropriate:
     (a) The number and type of staff at each of the department of corrections facilities;
     (b) The adequacy and costs of current staffing at department of corrections facilities;
     (c) The need, availability, and costs of improving staffing at department of corrections facilities;
     (d) The geographic factors associated with staffing department of corrections facilities, including the impact of staffing on the local economy and the economic impact of reducing or increasing staffing at department of corrections facilities;
     (e) The safety of employees at department of corrections facilities, including all reported incidents of all assault or other crimes committed against such employees;
     (f) A detailed review of the adequacy and costs of all current security-related policies, procedures, and measures at department of corrections facilities and the need, availability, and costs of improving such policies, procedures, and measures; and
     (g) The implementation and consistent application of policy recommendations resulting from the national institute of corrections review of prison safety and the statewide security advisory committee regarding security issues in department of corrections facilities, as provided for in chapter 252, Laws of 2011.
     (4) The office of financial management shall submit a:
     (a) Final report to the governor, the house of representatives and senate ways and means committees, the senate human services and corrections committee, and the house of representatives public safety committee by December 1, 2014. The report shall provide any recommendations and a plan, if necessary, to improve staffing ratios and employee safety at department of corrections facilities. The report shall include an individual assessment of staffing and safety measures at each department of corrections facility, and any costs or savings associated with each recommendation and plan;
     (b) Report on the progress by the department of corrections of implementing the recommendations and plan to the same committees of the legislature by December 1, 2015.
     (5) This section expires December 1, 2015.