Great news! SB 6242 passed out of the Senate unanimously and now awaits scheduling in the House. AWC is closely monitoring the proposed budgets to determine if funding is allocated for this bill. We will continue to strongly advocate for the state to fund 100% of the CJTC BLEA costs and eliminate the 25% local cost-share requirement.

State would pay 100% of costs for basic law enforcement training under new bill

January 19, 2024

This week the Senate will hear a bill to remove the 25% local government cost sharing requirement for the Criminal Justice Training Center’s Basic Law Enforcement Academy (CJTC BLEA) classes. Since the 2017-2019 biennial budget, the state has only paid 75% of a new law enforcement recruit's training at the academy and required local governments to pay the remaining 25% of total costs, or nearly $5,000 per recruit. SB 6242, sponsored by Sen. Mark Mullet (D–Issaquah), would remove the cost sharing requirement beginning in July 2024.

Helping cities to recruit and retain police officers for public safety is a 2024 city legislative priority.

AWC urges cities to contact their legislators in support of this bill. The issue of funding for law enforcement recruitment and retention, including the BLEA cost-share, will be an ongoing discussion for the next couple weeks as the budgets are being developed in each chamber. Share with your legislators about the challenges you are experiencing in law enforcement recruitment and retention and ask that they support SB 6242 and other avenues to provide cities with fiscal resources for law enforcement recruitment and retention.

Dates to remember

SB 6242 is scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Ways & Means Committee on January 22 at 4 pm.