Brief Description: Authorizing community and technical colleges to appoint special police officers.

Sponsors: Representatives O'Brien, Sump and Kirby.

Hearing Date: 2/18/03

Staff: Sydney Forrester (786-7120).

Background:

A community and technical college board of trustees is authorized to employ necessary employees to govern, manage, and operate its campus. All campuses employ security officers who are classified employees for the purposes of state employment. Policies governing campus security at two-year institutions are developed at the local level.

Statutory grants of state law enforcement powers are divided into two broad categories: general authority powers and limited authority powers. General authority officers have authority to enforce all laws (traffic and criminal) within a specified territory. Under certain circumstances general authority officers also may enforce laws throughout the state. Limited authority law enforcement officers, however, can enforce only those criminal and traffic laws pertaining to the subject matter governed by their employing agency.

General authority law enforcement agencies are those state and local agencies whose primary function is to detect and apprehend violations of traffic and criminal laws in general. Examples include the Washington State Patrol, the Department of Fish and Wildlife, and local police and sheriff's offices.

Limited authority law enforcement agencies have subject matter jurisdiction over specific and limited areas of the law. Examples include the Gambling Commission, the Liquor Control Board, the Lottery Commission, the Department of Corrections, and the Department of Social and Health Services.

Summary of Bill:

The bill authorizes the individual boards of trustees for community and technical colleges to appoint state-employed special police officers and to supply officers with badges, uniforms, and identification cards. Special police officers would have authority to enforce criminal laws, including making arrests and issuing criminal citations, on college property and also to exercise their powers off-campus if in fresh pursuit of a person who has committed a crime on college property. Officers would not be authorized to utilize firearms on duty and would be required to take refresher training courses.

Prior to employment officers would be required to undergo a state and federal criminal records check, submit to a drug test, and complete required training. Training would be equivalent to the training provided for reserve law enforcement officers.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.