SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5776

BYSenator Pullen

Regarding training for law enforcement officers and establishing a fund for drug training.

Senate Committee on Law & Justice

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 22, 1989; February 27, 1989

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5776 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Pullen, Chairman; Madsen, Nelson, Newhouse, Rasmussen, Talmadge, Thorsness.

Senate Staff:Richard Rodger (786-7461)

                  February 28, 1989

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON LAW & JUSTICE, FEBRUARY 27, 1989

BACKGROUND:

Under current law all law enforcement personnel are required to complete a basic training course.  The course is to be completed during the first 15 months of employment.  A chief of police for a city or town with a population of less than 1,000 is given nine months to complete the basic training course.

The controlled substances statute provides for the forfeiture and sale of certain personal property.  Seventy-five percent of the forfeiture proceeds is deposited in the general fund of the state, county or city of the seizing law enforcement agency.  Twenty-five percent of the proceeds is deposited in the public safety and education account.

SUMMARY:

Clarification is made to ensure that employment qualifications for a chief of police are the same for both full- time and part-time positions.

Law enforcement personnel employed after January 1, 1990 are to commence the basic training course within the first six months of employment.

Twenty-five percent of the proceeds from the sale of property forfeited, under the controlled substances statute, goes to the criminal justice drug training account.  A new criminal justice drug training account is created in the office of the State Treasurer.  The funds are to be appropriated for the sole purpose of conducting training related to illegal drug activity.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

Amendments relating to basic training equivalency are deleted.

Provisions altering disposition of personal property forfeiture funds are deleted.

The new section creating a criminal justice drug training account is stricken.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      requested February 21, 1989

Senate Committee - Testified: Sharnette M. Carnahan (pro)