Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Appropriations Committee

HB 1370

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.

Brief Summary of Bill

Requires Western State Hospital and Eastern State Hospital to enter into contracts to compensate the cities in which they are located for providing public safety services.
Requires Western State Hospital to enter into a contract with the city in which it is located for the provision of community policing services at the hospital and in the surrounding areas.
Establishes a methodology for determining how much funding must be provided in these contracts.

Background:

Western State Hospital (WSH) and Eastern State Hospital (ESH) are adult psychiatric hospitals that provide involuntary inpatient treatment for individuals with mental disorders who are committed by civil and criminal courts. The facilities are operated by the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS). The WSH is located in the Lakewood area of Pierce County and has 842 inpatient beds, which serve individuals from western Washington counties. The ESH is located in the Medical Lake area of Spokane County and has 317 inpatient beds, which serve individuals from eastern Washington counties.

As part of the 2015-17 Operating Budget, a total of $462,000 was appropriated (for the 2015-17 biennium) to the DSHS solely for a community partnership between the WSH and the City of Lakewood to support community policing efforts in the Lakewood community surrounding the WSH. The funding was to pay for the salaries, benefits, supplies, and equipment for one full-time investigator, one full-time law enforcement officer, and one full-time community service officer at the City of Lakewood. A similar appropriation has been incorporated in prior operating budgets back to fiscal year 2008. An additional $90,000 was also appropriated to the DSHS for the 2015-17 biennium for the Lakewood Police Department to provide direct services at the WSH.

No similar appropriations are or have been provided for these types of services in Medical Lake.

Summary of Bill:

The WSH and the ESH must enter into contracts with the cities in which they are located to compensate the cities for providing public safety services, including but not limited to 911 response service and police calls. Beginning in the 2017-19 fiscal biennium, each contract shall be equal to 9 cents per square foot of the respective state hospital. In each subsequent fiscal biennium, the hospital shall make adjustments for any changes in square footage.

The WSH must also enter into a contract with the city in which it is located for the provision of community policing services at the hospital and in the surrounding area. Community policing services include, but are not limited to, dedicated police personnel whose specific duties are to provide response, reporting, and investigative services beyond the basic patrol response. Beginning in fiscal biennium 2017-19, the amount of the contract must be no less than $621,000. In each subsequent biennium, the hospital must make adjustments for inflation.

The cities shall not bond the revenue allocated in these contracts.