Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Judiciary Committee

SSB 5004

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.

Title: An act relating to establishing the position and authority of warrant officers.

Brief Description: Establishing the position and authority of warrant officers.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Law & Justice (originally sponsored by Senators Angel and Rolfes).

Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

  • Authorizes any city or town, rather than only cities with a population of over 400,000, to maintain warrant officers within local police departments.

  • Authorizes local jurisdictions to grant warrant officers authority beyond arrest authority, including the authority to serve civil and criminal process.

  • Provides that process issuing from any court that is directed to a police department in which a warrant officer position is maintained may be served or enforced by a warrant officer.

Hearing Date: 3/17/15

Staff: Omeara Harrington (786-7136).

Background:

Cities with a population of over 400,000 are authorized to maintain warrant officers within the city police department. Warrant officers are limited-commission officers vested only with authority to make arrests authorized by warrants and other arrests as authorized by ordinance. The number and qualifications of warrant officers are fixed by ordinance and compensation is provided by the city. Warrant officers are not entitled to benefits through the Washington Law Enforcement Officers' and Firefighters' Retirement System on the basis of service as a warrant officer.

All criminal and civil process issuing from a municipal court of a city with a population greater than 400,000 must be directed to the chief of police of the city served by the court, the sheriff of the county in which the court is held, or the warrant officers.

Summary of Bill:

Any city, code city, or town may create warrant officer positions within their city or town police departments pursuant to the same provisions as currently apply to warrant officer positions in cities of over 400,000 people. Warrant officers are vested with the special authority identified in ordinance, which may include the authority to make arrests authorized by warrants and other authority related to service of civil and criminal process. The chief of police of the city or town must establish training requirements consistent with the warrant officer job description as established in that jurisdiction.

Process issuing from any court that is directed to a police department in which a warrant officer position is maintained may be served or enforced by the warrant officer.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.