(1) The secretary of corrections shall appoint institutional religious coordinators for the state correctional institutions for convicted felons. Institutional religious coordinators shall be appointed as employees of the department of corrections. The secretary of corrections may further contract with religious coordinators to be employed as is necessary to meet the religious needs of those inmates whose religious denominations are not represented by institutional religious coordinators and where volunteer religious coordinators are not available.

(2) Institutional religious coordinators appointed by the department of corrections under this section shall have qualifications necessary to serve all faith groups represented within the department. Every religious coordinator so appointed or contracted with shall have qualifications consistent with community standards of the given faith group to which he or she belongs and shall not be required to violate the tenets of his or her faith when acting in an ecclesiastical role.

(3) The secretary of children, youth, and families shall appoint religious coordinators for the correctional institutions for juveniles found delinquent by the juvenile courts; and the secretary of corrections and the secretary of social and health services shall appoint one or more religious coordinators for other custodial, correctional, and mental institutions under their control.

(4) Except as provided in this section, the religious coordinators so appointed under this section shall have the qualifications and shall be compensated in an amount as recommended by the appointing department and approved by the director of financial management.

Effective date—2019 c 146 s 7: "Section 7 of this act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect July 1, 2019." [ 2019 c 146 s 8.]

Effective date—2017 3rd sp.s. c 6 ss 601-631, 701-728, and 804: See note following RCW 13.04.011.

Conflict with federal requirements—2017 3rd sp.s. c 6: See RCW 43.216.908.

Finding—2008 c 104: "The legislature finds that men and women who are incarcerated have the need to develop prosocial behaviors. These behaviors will better enable these men and women to fully participate in society and adhere to law-abiding behaviors, such as continuing treatment that is undertaken in prison, once the person is released in the community.

Living in an environment where foundational skills are modeled and encouraged fosters positive outcomes for people who have been convicted and sentenced for their crimes. Basic skills include positive decision making, personal responsibility, building a healthy community, religious tolerance and understanding, ethics and morality, conflict management, family life relationships, leadership, managing emotions, restorative justice, transitional issues, and spirituality. Learning and practicing how to overcome minor and significant obstacles in a positive way will prepare offenders who are returning to our communities to begin their new crime-free lives." [ 2008 c 104 s 1.]

Effective date—1993 c 281: See note following RCW 41.06.022.

Housing allowance for state-employed religious coordinator: RCW 41.04.360.

Washington personnel resources board: RCW 41.06.110.