S-0799.1

SENATE BILL 5533

BySenators Lovick, Randall, Dhingra, Hunt, Liias, Lovelett, Nguyen, Nobles, Pedersen, Robinson, Saldaña, Shewmake, and Van De Wege

AN ACT Relating to the creation of a model vehicle pursuit policy for law enforcement agencies and the creation of a vehicle pursuit technology grant program; and adding new sections to chapter 43.101 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 43.101 RCW to read as follows:

(1) The commission shall convene a work group to develop a model vehicle pursuit policy for peace officers.

(2) The commission must ensure that the work group is comprised of community and law enforcement stakeholders, including the following: Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs; Washington state patrol; Washington fraternal order of police; Washington council of police and sheriffs; Washington state patrol troopers association; council of metropolitan police and sheriffs; teamsters local 117; families who have lost loved ones as a result of violent interactions with law enforcement; an organization advocating for civil rights; a statewide organization advocating for Black Americans; a statewide organization advocating for Latinos; a statewide organization advocating for Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, and Native Hawaiians; a federally recognized tribe located in Washington state; a community organization from eastern Washington working on police accountability; a community organization from western Washington working on police accountability; a community organization serving persons who are unhoused; the faith-based community with advocacy on police accountability; a community organization working on traffic safety issues; and a statewide organization working on police accountability.

(3) The model policy work group shall consider:

(a) Circumstances where vehicle pursuits may not be justified;

(b) Circumstances where vehicle pursuits may be justified;

(c) Circumstances where peace officers should consider the use of tactics other than engaging in a vehicle pursuit;

(d) Procedures and tactics for officers engaged in a pursuit;

(e) Responsibilities of the primary responding unit;

(f) Supervision of pursuit activities;

(g) The responsibilities of dispatch when an officer is engaged in a vehicle pursuit;

(h) Factors influencing the termination of a pursuit;

(i) Factors related to interjurisdictional pursuits;

(j) Care and consideration of victims and injured persons; and

(k) Information to be included in reports related to the pursuit.

(4) The commission shall present the model vehicle pursuit policy as its recommendation to the appropriate committees of the legislature and publish the model policy on its website no later than October 31, 2024.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 43.101 RCW to read as follows:

(1) Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the commission shall develop and implement a law enforcement technology grant program for the purpose of providing law enforcement with modern vehicle pursuit management technology including but not limited to GPS tracking equipment, automated license plate reading technology, and drones.

(2) Grants must be awarded to local law enforcement agencies based on locally developed proposals. The commission shall establish policies for applications under this section in addition to criteria for evaluating and selecting grant recipients. A proposal must include a request for specific technology and a specific plan for the implementation and use of that technology.

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