HOUSE BILL REPORT
SB 5286
As Reported by House Committee On:
Community Safety
Title: An act relating to policing costs driven by proximity to state hospitals.
Brief Description: Concerning policing costs driven by proximity to state hospitals.
Sponsors: Senators Holy, Dhingra, King, Liias, Wilson, J., Salomon and Valdez.
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Community Safety: 3/18/25, 3/24/25 [DP].
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Establishes a community partnership program between the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) and the City of Medical Lake, and recognizes the existing community partnership program between the DSHS and the City of Lakewood, to support community policing efforts at state psychiatric hospitals and adjacent areas.
  • Requires the state to provide annual funding to the cities of Medical Lake and Lakewood to support the community partnership programs.
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON COMMUNITY SAFETY
Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by 9 members:Representatives Goodman, Chair; Simmons, Vice Chair; Graham, Ranking Minority Member; Griffey, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Burnett, Davis, Farivar, Fosse and Obras.
Staff: Corey Patton (786-7388).
Background:

The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) operates two state psychiatric hospitals for the involuntary treatment of adults:  Eastern State Hospital, located in the City of Medical Lake; and Western State Hospital, located in the City of Lakewood.  These hospitals primarily serve patients who are either civilly committed for treatment through the Involuntary Treatment Act, or forensically committed for treatment related to criminal insanity or competency to stand trial for a criminal offense.

 

The 2023-25 State Operating Budget included the following appropriations from the State General Fund to the DSHS:

  • $311,000 per fiscal year for a community partnership between Western State Hospital and the City of Lakewood to support community policing efforts, including for the purpose of salaries, benefits, supplies, and equipment for the city to produce incident and police response reports, investigate potential criminal conduct, assist with charging consultations, liaison between staff and prosecutors, provide staff training on criminal justice procedures, assist with parking enforcement, and attend meetings with hospital staff;
  • $45,000 per fiscal year for payment to the City of Lakewood for police services provided at Western State Hospital and adjacent areas; 
  • $311,000 per fiscal year for the salaries, benefits, supplies, and equipment for one full-time investigator, one full-time police officer, and one full-time community services officer for policing efforts at Eastern State Hospital; and
  • $25,000 per fiscal year for payment to the City of Medical Lake for police services provided at Eastern State Hospital and adjacent areas.
Summary of Bill:

A community partnership program is established between the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) and the City of Medical Lake to support community policing efforts at Eastern State Hospital and adjacent areas, and the existing community partnership program between the DSHS and the City of Lakewood to support community policing efforts at Western State Hospital and adjacent areas is recognized and perpetuated.  The state must provide annual funding to both cities to support the community partnership programs in an amount to be determined in the biennial budget which reflects anticipated service levels and costs.  The aggregate amounts provided must fairly reflect the relative size of each hospital and individual community needs, and are in addition to any appropriation provided for payment for police services.

 

The DSHS must collect data from both cities on the use of funds and the number of calls responded to by the community partnership programs, and submit an annual report with this information to the Office of Financial Management and the appropriate fiscal committees of the Legislature by December 1 of each year.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) The cities of Lakewood and Medical Lake face unique challenges and demands with policing at and near state psychiatric hospitals operating in their communities.  Western State Hospital has received funding for policing costs in recent biennia, and there have been efforts to provide funding to Eastern State Hospital for similar purposes.  This bill establishes a statutory requirement to provide ongoing funding in an amount that reflects service levels and community needs, thereby eliminating the need to chase appropriations every year.

 

Additionally, this bill formally recognizes Western State Hospital's community policing program and establishes a similar program at Eastern State Hospital.  The program at Western State Hospital provides training to hospital personnel, reduces the number of emergency calls being routed through the 911 system, and supports dedicated police personnel who can develop a relationship with hospital staff and are better equipped to investigate incidents at the facility.

 

(Opposed) None.
Persons Testifying:

Senator Jeff Holy, prime sponsor; Captain Chris Westby, City of Lakewood; Sonny Weathers, City of Medical Lake; Terri Cooper, City of Medical Lake; and Terri Cooper, Mayor, City of Medical Lake.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.