SENATE BILL REPORT
HB 1290
As Passed Senate, March 31, 2023
Title: An act relating to training for tribal police officers and employees.
Brief Description: Concerning training for tribal police officers and employees.
Sponsors: Representatives Lekanoff, Goodman, Ortiz-Self, Ramel, Leavitt and Ormsby; by request of Criminal Justice Training Commission.
Brief History: Passed House: 2/28/23, 97-0.
Committee Activity: Law & Justice: 3/22/23 [DP].
Floor Activity: Passed Senate: 3/31/23, 48-0.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Requires tribal agencies with tribal officer certification written agreements with the Criminal Justice Training Commission (CJTC) to reimburse CJTC for 25 percent of the cost of training its personnel.
  • Requires tribes without current written tribal officer certification agreements with CJTC to pay the full cost of providing such training.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON LAW & JUSTICE
Majority Report: Do pass.
Signed by Senators Dhingra, Chair; Trudeau, Vice Chair; Padden, Ranking Member; Kuderer, McCune, Pedersen, Salomon, Torres, Valdez, Wagoner and Wilson, L..
Staff: Tim Ford (786-7423)
Background:

The Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission (CJTC) was created in 1974, to establish standards and provide training to criminal justice professionals, including peace officers, local corrections officers and to certify, and when necessary decertify peace officers.  As a condition of employment, all Washington peace officers and corrections officers are required to obtain certification as required by law and the rules of CJTC.

 

CJTC provides Basic Law Enforcement Trainings (BLET), which is Washington’s mandated training for all city and county entry-level peace officers in the state.  BLET must be successfully completed within the first six months of employment unless waived or extended by CJTC.  The Basic Law Enforcement Academy provides the necessary facilities, supplies, materials, board and room for non-commuting attendees for seven days per week to complete BLET.  State law mandates agencies shall reimburse CJTC 25 percent of the cost for BLET.

 

In 1981, the Legislature provided that tribal officers and employees who are engaged in law enforcement activities and who do not qualify as criminal justice personnel or law enforcement personnel may be trained through BLET if the tribe is recognized by the federal government, and the tribe pays to CJTC the full cost of providing such training.  There are 29 federally recognized tribes in Washington State.

 

Tribal governments may voluntarily request certification for their police officers.  Tribal governments requesting certification must enter into a written agreement with CJTC.  The agreement must require the tribal law enforcement agency and its officers to comply with all of the requirements for granting, denying, and revoking certification just the same as those requirements are applied to peace officers certified under state law and the rules of the commission.  Application for certification as a tribal police officer shall be accepted and processed in the same manner as those for certification of peace officers. 
Summary of Bill:

CJTC is required to provide training to tribal police officers and employees engaged in law enforcement activities, and who do not qualify as peace officers, corrections officers, or officers of a general authority Washington law enforcement agency, if:

  • the tribe is federally recognized; and
  • tribal agencies who have entered into tribal officer certification written agreements with CJTC reimburse CJTC for 25 percent of the cost of training.

 

Tribes without a tribal officer certification agreement must pay CJTC the full cost of training.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

No public hearing was held.
Persons Testifying: N/A
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: N/A