H-868                _______________________________________________

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 1451

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1989 Regular Session

By Representatives Patrick, Appelwick, Moyer, Schmidt, Bowman, R. Meyers, Crane, Brough, Belcher, Dellwo, Locke, Tate, Padden, D. Sommers, P. King, Wineberry, Anderson, Kremen, Walker, Winsley, Beck, Miller, Schoon, Betrozoff, Silver, Youngsman, Ferguson, Rector, Cooper, Wood, Scott, Sayan, Ebersole, Basich, Todd, H. Myers and Smith

Read first time 1/25/89 and referred to Committee on State Government.

AN ACT Relating to the creation of law enforcement medal of honor; and adding a new chapter to Title 41 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     There is established a decoration to be known as the Washington state law enforcement medal of honor with accompanying ribbons and appurtenances to be awarded by the governor, in the name of the state to any law enforcement officer who has been seriously injured or killed while in the performance of duty, or who has been distinguished by exceptionally meritorious conduct, upon nomination of the governor's state law enforcement medal of honor committee.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.     There is created the state law enforcement medal of honor committee for nominating candidates for the award of the state law enforcement medal of honor.  The committee membership consists of a representative from the governor's office, the Washington state law enforcement association, the Washington state council of police officers, the Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs, and the Washington state troopers association.  The president of the senate, speaker of the house of representatives, and the chief justice of the supreme court shall also serve as members of the committee.  The attorney general shall serve as chairman of the committee and shall designate a secretary for the committee.  The committee shall meet at least twice a year to consider candidates for nomination.  The committee shall adopt rules establishing the qualifications for the Washington state law enforcement medal of honor, the protocol governing the decoration, and the appurtenances necessary to the implementation of this chapter.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.     The Washington state law enforcement medal of honor shall be awarded to recipients during the national law enforcement recognition week.  The governor may delegate the awarding of the medal to the lieutenant governor, the attorney general, the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, or the chief justice of the supreme court.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.     The Washington state law enforcement medal of honor may be awarded posthumously to be presented to such representative of the deceased as may be deemed appropriate by the governor or the designees specified in section 3 of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5.     The decoration known as the Washington state law enforcement medal of honor shall be bronze and shall consist of a police shield overlaid by a sheriff's star with the seal of the state of Washington in the center and the words:  "Law enforcement medal of honor" within the design and suspended from a ring attached by either a navy blue ribbon with a gold edge or a green ribbon with the gold edge.  Such color choice shall be the recipient's.  The reverse of the decoration shall be inscribed with the words:  "For exceptionally honorable and meritorious conduct in performing services as a law enforcement officer."

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6.     Sections 1 through 5 of this act shall constitute a new chapter in Title 41 RCW.