SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5150

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.

Background: Federal Requirements on Safety at Postsecondary Institutions. A number of federal laws regulate certain aspects of campus security and safety at postsecondary institutions. These regulations govern public disclosure of campus crime statistics and the information provided on safety. Any institution participating in Title IV federal financial aid must disclose campus crime statistics and security information annually. The statistics must be available to the public.

The annual security report requires institutions to have policies concerning campus law enforcement that addresses enforcement authority, the relationship of campus security and the local and state police agencies, and how and to whom a victim should report a crime. An institution may be fined up to $35,000 per violation or may lose financial aid, if it violates the Clery Act reporting requirements.

School Resource Officers. A school resource officer (SRO) is a commissioned law enforcement officer with sworn authority to make arrests, deployed in community-oriented policing, and assigned by the employing police department or sheriff's office to work in a school to address crime and disorder problems, gangs, and drug activities affecting or occurring in or around an elementary or secondary school. In Washington's K-12 system, SRO funding can come solely from the school district or law enforcement agency, or from a combined funding source.

Summary of Bill: The board of trustees for each community and technical college (CTC) district have the authority to:

employ SROs to work with the appropriate personnel at the CTCs to ensure the safety of the college campus;
approve officers to carry weapons, including firearms, after receiving appropriate training;
contract with local law enforcement agencies to provide security services for a college; or
establish a safety force comprised of officers, who may be commissioned law enforcement with the ability to carry weapons, when funds are available.

Subject to appropriation, the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges and the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs must develop a template contract and accompanying information to assist community and technical colleges in contracting security forces.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: The level of expertise of the security officer is not at the same level as a police officer. We need to do something to protect our CTCs at the same level as K-12 schools and the public baccalaureates. In other states, there have been measures to allow for conceal carry on campuses and that has led to positive outcomes. In regards to section 2(b), it should be a fully commissioned police officer. Please consider removing firearms from this bill as armed security officers could be problematic and consider the model of a non-armed security officer, or a national park ranger. There should be more options for CTCs to protect their campuses. Campus leaders should create an environment of safety.

CON: Of the four options in this bill for creating a security force on a CTC campus, three are reasonable. There is an issue in Section (2) subsection (d) about creating new law enforcement agencies on the CTCs. We need more law enforcement agents in this state, not more agencies. By utilizing the 300 existing agencies, it reduces cost. CTCs are already struggling with funding for everything. Law enforcement is already accessible to the CTC now. Instead of focusing on mitigating mass shootings, faculty and students should report suspicious behavior more often. CTCs do behavioral bias response, and active shooter training. Sections (2)(a) and (c) are good, and codify current law. Fully commissioned police departments are not the way to go.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Senator Lynda Wilson, Prime Sponsor; Phil Watson, Firearms Policy Coalition; Nancy Endicott, Student, Cascadia College. CON: James McMahan, Washington Association Sheriffs and Police Chiefs; Leif Giering, Cascadia College. OTHER: Lynnette Buffington, Washington Fraternal Order of Police; Michele Johnson, Chancellor, Pierce College District.