BILL REQ. #:  H-1156.1 

Read first time 01/31/2003.   Referred to Committee on Technology, Telecommunications & Energy.

     AN ACT Relating to a statewide justice information network; amending RCW 10.98.160; and adding new sections to chapter 10.98 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 10.98 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The legislature finds that each of the state's justice agencies and the courts have developed independent information systems to address independent management and planning needs, that the state's justice information system is fragmented, and that access to complete, accurate, and timely justice information is difficult and inefficient.
     (2) The legislature declares that the purpose of this act is to develop and maintain, in a cost-effective manner, a statewide network of criminal justice information that enables sharing and integrated delivery of justice information maintained in the state's independent information systems and that will:
     (a) Maximize standardization of data and communications technology among law enforcement agencies, jails, prosecuting attorneys, the courts, corrections, and licensing;
     (b) Reduce redundant data collection and input efforts;
     (c) Reduce or eliminate paper-based information exchanges;
     (d) Improve work flow within the criminal justice system;
     (e) Provide complete, accurate, and timely information to criminal justice agencies and courts in a single computer session; and
     (f) Maintain security and privacy rights respecting criminal justice information.
     (3) A statewide network of criminal justice information will improve:
     (a) The safety of the public and the safety of law enforcement officers and other public servants, by making more complete, accurate, and timely information concerning offenders available to all criminal justice agencies and courts;
     (b) Decision making, by increasing the availability of statistical measures for review, evaluation, and promulgation of public policy; and
     (c) Access to complete, accurate, and timely information by the public, to the extent permitted pursuant to chapters 10.97 and 42.17 RCW.
     (4) The legislature encourages state and local criminal justice agencies and courts to participate in a statewide justice information network, as criminal justice agencies and courts collect the most complete, accurate, and timely information regarding offenders.
     (5) The legislature finds that the implementation, operation, and continuing enhancement of a statewide justice information network that enables sharing and integrated delivery of information maintained in the state's independent information systems is critical to the complete, accurate, and timely performance of criminal background checks and to the effective communications between and among law enforcement, the courts, executive agencies, and political subdivisions of the state. The legislature further finds and declares that it is in the best interests of the citizens of the state and for the enhancement of public safety that a justice information network be implemented as soon as possible.
     (6) The legislature finds that the intent, purpose, and goals of this act will be implemented most effectively by a board having the power, authority, and responsibility to develop, maintain, and enhance a statewide justice information network that enables sharing and integrated delivery of justice information maintained in the state's independent information systems.

Sec. 2   RCW 10.98.160 and 1999 c 143 s 53 are each amended to read as follows:
     In the development and modification of the procedures, definitions, and reporting capabilities of the section, the department, the office of financial management, and the responsible agencies and persons shall consider the needs of other criminal justice agencies such as the administrator for the courts, local law enforcement agencies, ((jailers)) local jails, the sentencing guidelines commission, the indeterminate sentence review board, the clemency board, prosecuting attorneys, and affected state agencies such as the office of financial management and legislative committees dealing with criminal justice issues. ((An executive committee appointed by the heads of the department, the Washington state patrol, and the office of financial management)) The Washington integrated justice information board shall review and provide recommendations to state justice agencies and the courts for development and modification of the ((section, the department, and the office of financial management's felony criminal information systems)) statewide justice information network.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   A new section is added to chapter 10.98 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) There is created the Washington integrated justice information board. The board shall be composed of the following members:
     (a) A representative appointed by the governor;
     (b) The attorney general;
     (c) The chief of the state patrol;
     (d) The secretary of the department of corrections;
     (e) The director of the department of licensing;
     (f) The administrator for the courts;
     (g) The director of the office of financial management;
     (h) The director of the department of information services;
     (i) The secretary of the juvenile rehabilitation administration;
     (j) A sheriff appointed by the Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs;
     (k) A police chief appointed by the Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs;
     (l) A county legislative authority member appointed by the Washington state association of counties;
     (m) An elected county clerk appointed by the Washington association of county clerks;
     (n) A representative appointed by the Washington association of city and county information systems;
     (o) Two representatives appointed by the judicial information system committee;
     (p) A representative appointed by the association of Washington cities;
     (q) An elected prosecutor appointed by the Washington association of prosecuting attorneys; and
     (r) The speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the senate may each appoint two members to the board, one from each of the two largest caucuses in each house.
     These members shall constitute the membership of the board with full voting rights and shall serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority. Each member may, in writing, appoint a designee to serve in the member's absence. Any member of the board shall immediately cease to be a member if he or she ceases to hold the particular office or employment that was the basis of the appointment. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner that the original appointments were made to the board.
     (2) The board may appoint additional justice information stakeholders as nonvoting members to the board.
     (3) In making the appointments, the appointing authorities shall endeavor to assure that there is committed board membership having expertise relating to state and local criminal justice business practices and to information sharing and integration technology.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   A new section is added to chapter 10.98 RCW to read as follows:
     The board shall elect a chair and vice-chair from among its voting members. Nine voting members of the board shall constitute a quorum. Meetings may be called by the chair or upon the written request of three members of the board. Meeting participation may be by means of conference call or any other communication equipment that allows all persons participating in the meeting to speak and hear all participants.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   A new section is added to chapter 10.98 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The board shall have the following powers and duties related to integration of justice information:
     (a) Meet at such times and places as may be designated by the chair or by three voting members of the board;
     (b) Adopt its own bylaws, and such other rules governing the board and the conduct of its meetings as the board may deem reasonable or convenient;
     (c) Coordinate and facilitate the governance, implementation, operation, maintenance, and enhancement of sharing and integrated delivery of complete, accurate, and timely justice information;
     (d) Increase the use of automated electronic data transfer among state justice agencies, local justice agencies, and courts;
     (e) Establish and implement uniform data standards and protocols for data transfer and sharing, interface applications, and connectivity standards;
     (f) Provide state agency and court justice information to criminal justice agencies and courts through connections and applications that enable single session access from multiple platforms;
     (g) Pursue, develop, and coordinate grants and other funding opportunities for state and local justice information projects that will expand or enhance the sharing and integrated delivery of the statewide justice information network;
     (h) Assess state and local agencies' projects and plans for sharing and delivery of integrated justice information, as may be requested by the agencies, the director of the office of financial management, the supreme court, or the legislature;
     (i) Assist the office of financial management with budgetary and policy review of state agency plans affecting the justice information network;
     (j) Recommend to the governor, the supreme court, and the legislature those legislative changes and appropriations needed to implement, maintain, and enhance a statewide justice information network and to assure the availability of complete, accurate, and timely justice information;
     (k) Encourage coordination, consistency, and compatibility among courts, state agency, and local agency justice information systems and projects; and
     (l) Adopt strategic and tactical planning goals and objectives that implement, maintain, and enhance sharing and integrated delivery of justice information for the state.
     (2)(a) Nothing in this section supersedes the authority of the information services board under chapter 43.105 RCW.
     (b) Nothing in this section supersedes the authority of courts, state agencies, and local agencies to control and maintain access to information within their independent systems.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6   A new section is added to chapter 10.98 RCW to read as follows:
     The board shall file a report with the governor, the supreme court, and the chairs and ranking minority members of the senate and house committees with jurisdiction over criminal justice funding and policy by September 1, 2004, and not less than every two years thereafter. The report shall make recommendations concerning legislative changes and appropriations needed to implement, operate, and enhance a statewide justice information network to assure the availability of complete, accurate, and timely justice information.