SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 6242
As Passed Senate, February 13, 2024
Title: An act relating to law enforcement training.
Brief Description: Concerning law enforcement training.
Sponsors: Senators Mullet and Lovick.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Ways & Means: 1/22/24, 2/05/24 [DP, w/oRec].
Floor Activity: Passed Senate: 2/13/24, 49-0.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Removes the requirement that law enforcement agencies reimburse the Criminal Justice Training Commission for 25 percent of the costs of training.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS
Majority Report: Do pass.
Signed by Senators Robinson, Chair; Mullet, Vice Chair, Capital; Nguyen, Vice Chair, Operating; Wilson, L., Ranking Member, Operating; Gildon, Assistant Ranking Member, Operating; Schoesler, Ranking Member, Capital; Rivers, Assistant Ranking Member, Capital; Warnick, Assistant Ranking Member, Capital; Billig, Boehnke, Braun, Conway, Dhingra, Hunt, Keiser, Muzzall, Pedersen, Randall, Saldaña, Torres, Van De Wege, Wagoner and Wellman.
Minority Report: That it be referred without recommendation.
Signed by Senator Hasegawa.
Staff: Sarian Scott (786-7729)
Background:

Criminal Justice Training Commission. The Criminal Justice Training Commission (CJTC) establishes the standards and process to certify peace officers and other law enforcement (LE) personnel. It also provides training and educational programs including the Basic Law Enforcement Academy and specialized trainings.
 
Law Enforcement Training. The CJTC has sole authority to provide basic law enforcement training to all peace officers. All peace officers must complete basic law enforcement training within a certain time period following employment, ranging from 6 to 15 months.  Successful completion of training is a mandatory requirement for continued employment.


Since 2012 the employing county, city and state employed LE agency has been required to reimburse CJTC for 25 percent of the cost of training its personnel.

 Law Enforcement Personnel and Peace Officers. LE personnel include any general authority peace officers. A general authority peace officer is a full-time officer of a state or local government or agency whose primary function is enforcing the traffic or criminal laws. The Washington State Patrol and the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife are general authority peace officers. For CJTC purposes a peace officer has the same meaning as a general authority peace officer.
Summary of Bill:

Beginning July 1, 2024, county, city, or state LE agencies are not required to reimburse the CJTC for 25 percent of the cost of training their personnel.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect on July 1, 2024.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

PRO: This bill is an attempt to right size to have the CJTC pay for the training. Cities and counties still have to pay the salaries of their employees. Newly hired 2024 police officers wouldn't have a class available for them until at least July 2024 at the earliest so we have investment. Biggest issue is public safety, and this will help. Counties would ask for removal of this recession practice and bring balance back. Will save smaller communities and local governments some money. Fifty-five percent of commissioned law enforcement are city police. Cities will save over $2.5 million. Restore historical practice. Cost for an agency is just under $5,000 to send a recruit to training. Prior to 2012 the state paid 100 percent of the costs.
Persons Testifying: PRO: Senator Mark Mullet, Prime Sponsor; Lindsey Hueer, Association of Washington Cities; Juliana Roe, Washington State Association of Counties; Mark Johnson, Washington Retail Association; Lacey Ledford, Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission; James McMahan, WA Assoc Sheriffs & Police Chiefs.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.