AN ACT Relating to the recruitment and retention of Washington state patrol commissioned officers; amending RCW 46.68.030 and 43.43.380; adding new sections to chapter 43.43 RCW; creating new sections; and providing an effective date.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1.  It is the intent of the legislature to recruit and retain the highest qualified commissioned officers of the Washington state patrol appointed under RCW 43.43.020. The "Joint Transportation Committee Recruitment and Retention Study" dated January 7, 2016, outlines several recommendations to fulfill this intent. The study recommendations were broken down into several areas, with the Washington state patrol, office of financial management, select committee on pension policy, and the legislature all supporting their respective authorizations and control over their respective areas of responsibility and accountability. It is also the intent of the legislature in the 2017-2019 fiscal biennium to increase the thirty dollar vehicle license fee distribution to the state patrol for the salaries and benefits of state patrol officers, including troopers, sergeants, lieutenants, and captains, and make adjustments as needed in the 2019-2021 fiscal biennium.

Sec. 2.  RCW 46.68.030 and 2015 3rd sp.s. c 43 s 601 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The director shall forward all fees for vehicle registrations under chapters 46.16A and 46.17 RCW, unless otherwise specified by law, to the state treasurer with a proper identifying detailed report. The state treasurer shall credit these moneys to the motor vehicle fund created in RCW 46.68.070.

(2) Proceeds from vehicle license fees and renewal vehicle license fees must be deposited by the state treasurer as follows:

(a) (($20.35)) $23.60 of each initial or renewal vehicle license fee must be deposited in the state patrol highway account in the motor vehicle fund, hereby created. Vehicle license fees, renewal vehicle license fees, and all other funds in the state patrol highway account must be for the sole use of the Washington state patrol for highway activities of the Washington state patrol, subject to proper appropriations and reappropriations.

(b) $2.02 of each initial vehicle license fee and $0.93 of each renewal vehicle license fee must be deposited each biennium in the Puget Sound ferry operations account.

(c) Any remaining amounts of vehicle license fees and renewal vehicle license fees that are not distributed otherwise under this section must be deposited in the motor vehicle fund.

(3) During the 2015-2017 fiscal biennium, the legislature may transfer from the state patrol highway account to the connecting Washington account such amounts as reflect the excess fund balance of the state patrol highway account.

(2) The Washington state patrol must develop an action plan and implementation strategy for each of the recommendations that are outlined in the study with a report due to the transportation committees of the house of representatives and senate by November 15, 2016. 

(3) The select committee on pension policy must review the pension-related items in the study and make recommendations to the governor's office and the legislature by November 1, 2016, on pension policy that will assist in recruiting and retaining state patrol commissioned officers.

Sec. 5.  RCW 43.43.380 and 1965 c 8 s 43.43.380 are each amended to read as follows:

The minimum monthly salary paid to state patrol ((officers shall be as follows: Officers, three hundred dollars; staff or technical sergeants, three hundred twenty-five dollars; line sergeants, three hundred fifty dollars; lieutenants, three hundred seventy-five dollars; captains, four hundred twenty-five dollars)) troopers and sergeants on July 1, 2017, must be competitive with law enforcement agencies within the boundaries of the state of Washington, guided by the results of a survey undertaken in the collective bargaining process during 2016. The salary levels on July 1, 2017, must be guided by the average of compensation paid to the corresponding rank from the Seattle police department, King county sheriff's office, Tacoma police department, Snohomish county sheriff's office, Spokane police department, and Vancouver police department. Compensation must be calculated using base salary, premium pay (a pay received by more than a majority of employees), education pay, and longevity pay. The compensation comparison data is based on the Washington state patrol and the law enforcement agencies listed in this section as of July 1, 2016. Increases in salary levels for captains and lieutenants that are collectively bargained must be proportionate to the increases in salaries for troopers and sergeants as a result of the survey described in this section.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6.  A new section is added to chapter 43.43 RCW to read as follows:

During the 2017-2019 collective bargaining process, the office of financial management, the Washington state patrol troopers association, and the Washington state patrol lieutenants association must evaluate regional differences in the cost of living to determine areas of the state where geographic pay may be needed. The negotiators must implement regional compensation adjustments, as appropriate.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 7.  A new section is added to chapter 43.43 RCW to read as follows:

To ensure that it is adequately and thoroughly reaching potential recruits, the Washington state patrol must develop a comprehensive outreach and marketing strategic plan that expands on the success of current strategies and looks for ways to tap into groups or individuals that do not currently show an interest in the state patrol or law enforcement as a career. The plan must include, but is not limited to, expanding marketing and outreach efforts online and through other media outlets and expanding recruitment relationships in respective communities. The plan must also include polling applicants about their application. Results from the polling must be tracked to determine the success of each outreach method.

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