SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 6032
As Reported by Senate Committee On:
Law & Justice, January 30, 2024
Title: An act relating to community engagement with law enforcement at nonprofit religious schools.
Brief Description: Fostering community engagement with law enforcement at nonprofit religious schools.
Sponsors: Senators Braun, Dozier, Warnick and Wilson, J..
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Law & Justice: 1/23/24, 1/30/24 [DPS].
Brief Summary of First Substitute Bill
  • Expands the Community-Law Enforcement Partnership Program to allow funding for off-duty law enforcement officers for security services and hate crime prevention at nonprofit religious schools, including synagogues and Jewish schools.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON LAW & JUSTICE
Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6032 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.
Signed by Senators Dhingra, Chair; Trudeau, Vice Chair; Padden, Ranking Member; Kuderer, McCune, Pedersen, Salomon, Torres, Valdez, Wagoner and Wilson, L..
Staff: William Bridges (786-7312)
Background:

Community-Law Enforcement Partnership Program. The Legislature created the Community Engagement Grant Project in 2021 to fund grants that facilitate community-law enforcement partnerships and improve police-community relations in Washington communities. It is administered by the Department of Commerce as the Community-Law Enforcement Partnership Program (CLEP).

 

Eligible Community-Law Enforcement Partnership Program Applicants. Applicants for the grant program must:

  • be a public agency or nongovernmental organization;
  • have demonstrated experience with community engagement initiatives that impact public safety;
  • have community engagement and have established or be willing to establish a coordinated effort with committed partners, that must include law enforcement and organizations committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion of community members, including organizations whose leadership specifically reflects the communities most impacted by racism; and
  • have established priorities, policies, and measurable goals in compliance with the requirements of the project.


Community-Law Enforcement Partnership Program Grant Activities. Among other requirements, a grant recipient must build substantive law enforcement and community partnerships, including:

  • building trust by facilitating purposeful anti-racist practices;
  • facilitating dialogue between law enforcement and community members to increase understanding of the impact of historical racist practices and current conflicts;
  • educating community members on the role and function of law enforcement in the community;
  • clarifying expectations of law enforcement and of the role of the community in crime prevention;
  • educating community members on the best practices for reporting emergency and nonemergency activities; and
  • recognizing community members for effective engagement and community leadership.
Summary of Bill (First Substitute):

Adding Hate Crime Prevention at Nonprofit Religious Schools as an Eligible Community-Law Enforcement Partnership Program Grant Activity. The following activities may be funded by a CLEP grant:

  • partnering with off-duty law enforcement officers to provide  hate crime prevention efforts at nonprofit religious schools.
EFFECT OF CHANGES MADE BY LAW & JUSTICE COMMITTEE (First Substitute):
  • Removes funding for security services as a grant-eligible activity.
  • Clarifies that eligible entities for hate crime prevention grants include nonprofit religious schools.
  • Removes specific references to synagogues and Jewish schools.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Summary of Public Testimony on Original Bill: 

The committee recommended a different version of the bill than what was heard. PRO: There has been a growth of hate crimes, particularly against religious institutions driven by the recent events in the Middle East. This bill will help address the concerns of these affected communities. Relationships formed by these grants will likely last past the grant period. The bill is not intended to prioritize one religion over another.  
Persons Testifying: PRO: Senator John Braun, Prime Sponsor.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.