HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 2926

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Sponsors: Representatives Maycumber, Blake, Kretz, MacEwen, Van Werven, Mosbrucker, Graham, Hoff, Griffey, Stokesbary, Chambers, Ybarra, Dent, Barkis, Goehner, Chandler, Kraft, Goodman, Lovick, Ortiz-Self, Senn, Gildon, Sells, Boehnke, Davis, Smith, Dye, Orwall, Eslick, Shewmake, Pollet, Riccelli and Harris.

Floor Activity:

Passed House: 2/13/20, 97-0.

Senate Amended.

Passed Senate: 3/6/20, 48-0.

House Concurred.

Passed House: 3/10/20, 97-0.

Passed Legislature.

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 31 members: Representatives Ormsby, Chair; Robinson, 1st Vice Chair; Bergquist, 2nd Vice Chair; Stokesbary, Ranking Minority Member; MacEwen, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Rude, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Caldier, Chandler, Chopp, Cody, Dolan, Dye, Fitzgibbon, Hansen, Hoff, Hudgins, Kilduff, Kraft, Macri, Mosbrucker, Pettigrew, Pollet, Ryu, Schmick, Senn, Steele, Sullivan, Sutherland, Tarleton, Tharinger and Ybarra.

Background:

The Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission (CJTC) establishes standards for and provides training to criminal justice professionals, including peace officers and local corrections officers. Among its many duties, the CJTC manages the Basic Law Enforcement Academy and provides advanced training to practitioners. The CJTC also certifies and, when necessary, decertifies peace officers.

A peer support group counselor is generally a first responder or jail staff person, a civilian employee of such entity, or a nonemployee counselor designated by such entity or local jail, who provides emotional and moral support and counseling to a first responder or jail staff person who needs those services as a result of an incident in which he or she was involved while acting in his or her official capacity.

Critical incidents generally involve an event that lies outside the range of usual human experience. It has the potential to exhaust one's usual coping mechanisms, resulting in psychological distress and disruption of normal adaptive functioning. Critical incident stress management (CISM) programs help to address issues of secondary traumatization and include but are not limited to peer support counseling, crisis intervention, traumatic incident reduction, and stress management.

Summary of Bill:

Subject to appropriation, the CJTC must conduct outreach and coordinate with local law enforcement agencies to expand CISM programs to law enforcement personnel throughout Washington. The CJTC:

must conduct an inventory of the current CISM programs in the state, including an assessment of underserved agencies and regions;
must coordinate with law enforcement entities and community partners to provide greater access to CISM programs, including peer support group counselors; and
may assist such agencies with establishing interagency and regional service agreements to facilitate expansion of CISM programs.

The CJTC must prepare a preliminary report on its findings by July 1, 2021. A final report with a summary of the inventory and efforts to expand CISM programs must be submitted to the Governor and the appropriate committees of the Legislature by July 1, 2022.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) This bill will support necessary services that can help officers in some of the challenges they face. Officers are often exposed to unfortunate experiences while providing public safety services that everyone depends on. This is a unique group that must rise to the call to help citizens every day. This bill is a good step in providing the services that officers are more likely to take advantage of and use. Awareness of officer health and wellness has increased within the Legislature. The enactment of this bill, along with several other bills, will help Washington become a national leader in supporting law enforcement health and wellness programs.

(Opposed) None.