AN ACT Relating to criminal justice services and the crime laboratory system; amending RCW 43.43.670; adding new sections to chapter 43.43 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

Sec. 1. Section 2, chapter 69, Laws of 1980 and RCW 43.43.670 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) There is created in the Washington state patrol a crime laboratory system which is authorized to:

((~~(1)~~)) (a) Provide laboratory services for the purpose of analyzing and scientifically handling any physical evidence relating to any crime.

((~~(2)~~)) (b) Provide training assistance for local law enforcement personnel.

(2) The crime laboratory system shall assign priority to a request for services with due regard to whether the case involves criminal activity against persons. The Washington state advisory council on criminal justice services shall assist the crime laboratory system in devising policies to promote the most efficient use of laboratory resources consistent with this section.

(3) The chief of the Washington state patrol shall take whatever actions are required, including creation of a bureau within the state patrol, to ensure that adequate prominence is given to performance of crime laboratory functions by the state patrol.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. (1) The law enforcement crime laboratory council is established. The council shall consist of:

(a) The chief of the Washington state patrol, or the chief's designee, who shall serve as chair of the council;

(b) Three prosecuting attorneys appointed by the governor from a list of six names submitted by the Washington association of prosecuting attorneys; and

(c) Three sheriffs or police chiefs appointed by the governor from a list of six names submitted by the Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs. At least one member shall be a sheriff and at least one shall be a police chief.

(2) The members of the council appointed under subsection (1) (b) and (c) of this section shall serve terms of four years. However, the governor shall vary the terms of the initial members to achieve staggered terms.

(3) The members of the council shall serve without additional compensation but shall be reimbursed for travel expenses pursuant to RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.

(4) The council shall meet as often as necessary, but at least quarterly unless a majority of the council votes to dispense with any single meeting. The Washington state patrol shall provide administrative support to the council as needed to carry out the duties of the council.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. The law enforcement crime laboratory council shall:

(1) Assist the chief of the Washington state patrol in monitoring the performance of the state crime laboratories and the use of resources requested for and made available to the crime laboratories;

(2) Report annually to the governor and the legislature on the capacity and performance of the crime laboratories; and

(3) Review the biennial budget requests submitted by the laboratory director to the chief of the state patrol. The council shall prepare a commentary on the budget request, which commentary shall (a) not exceed six hundred words, and (b) be published with the state patrol budget request in the governor's budget document submitted to the legislature under chapter 43.88 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. The state crime laboratory director shall be appointed to a six-year term by the chief of the state patrol. The director may be removed from office prior to completion of a term of office by the chief for cause. Sufficient cause is presumed to exist if the removal is approved by a majority vote of the law enforcement crime laboratory council.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. With the cooperation and participation of the death investigations council, the state toxicologist, the Washington association of coroners, and the staff of the legislative budget committee, the law enforcement crime laboratory council shall undertake a study to determine the feasibility of combining the state crime laboratory, the state toxicological laboratory, and the state medical examiner system. The study shall also consider the location of such a combined system within the Washington state patrol or as a separate state department of forensic sciences. The law enforcement crime laboratory council shall submit a report to the legislature by December 1, 1990, as to the potential efficiencies and improvements in the delivery of forensic science services that may be accomplished by these proposals.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. Sections 2 through 4 of this act are each added to chapter 43.43 RCW.