HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 2SSB 6369

             As Reported By House Committee On:

               Criminal Justice & Corrections

Title:  An act relating to a law enforcement study.

Brief Description:  Ordering a study of law enforcement issues in counties with over 150,000 population.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators Patterson, McCaslin, Haugen, Long, Costa, Fairley, Eide, Heavey, Wojahn, Prentice, Brown and Winsley).

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Criminal Justice & Corrections:  2/22/00 [DP].

        Brief Summary of Second Substitute Bill

CRequires the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC) to study law enforcement expenditures within counties with populations of more than 150,000.

CRequires the study to distinguish where there are gaps and duplications in law enforcement services.

CRequires the study to begin by July 1, 2000, and be completed by January 1,

     2001.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE & CORRECTIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 8 members:  Representatives Ballasiotes, Republican Co-Chair; O'Brien, Democratic Co-Chair; Cairnes, Republican Vice Chair; Lovick, Democratic Vice Chair; B. Chandler; Constantine; Kagi and Koster.

Staff:  Yvonne Walker (786-7841).

Background:

The WASPC is considered a combination of units of local government.  It is responsible for, upon the request of a county, assisting that county in helping to develop and implement its local law and justice plan.  The association also maintains various crime reports and, on occasion, is responsible for working with other state and local agencies in conducting studies.

Summary of Bill:

The WASPC, in collaboration with the Legislative Evaluation and Accountability Program Committee (LEAP) and the State Auditor's Office, must conduct a study to review law enforcement needs in counties with populations of more than 150,000.  The purpose of the study is to provide recommendations for improvements within law enforcement jurisdictions, WASPC, and the Legislature by reviewing total law enforcement expenditures for each county and the cities within those counties.  The study must include a comprehensive review of total law enforcement costs and the types of costs, including but not limited to special services, such as Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) teams, bomb disposal units, air support marine units, hostage negotiation teams, homicide investigation units, drug units, canine units, arson investigation teams, computer fraud and forensics units, domestic violence and special assault units, and gang and youth violence units.  The study must distinguish where there are duplications and gaps in service delivery.

In addition, the study must obtain data from those counties and law enforcement agencies where master inter-local agreements, joint specialty service units, and other cooperative arrangements have been developed between law enforcement agencies to improve the effectiveness, efficiency, and ensured quality of specialty law enforcement services.

The WASPC must commence the study by July 1, 2000, and complete the study by January 1, 2001.  A final report must be distributed to the WASPC and the appropriate standing committee by January 30, 2001.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on February 17, 2000.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:   In too many areas of Washington there are duplications of specialized services (e.g. swat teams, canine units for drug busts, special drug teams, etc.) or no specialized services whatsoever.  The goal of the study is to make recommendations on how to more effectively deliver services to the State of Washington in a way that is more cost effective and to help law enforcement agencies to work more effectively among themselves.  

It is quite clear that there are partnerships to be made and money to be saved by doing this bill.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Senator Patterson, prime sponsor; Sheriff Dave Reichert, King County; and Larry Erickson, Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs.