A substitute version of HB 1387, sponsored by Rep. Bill Ramos (D–Issaquah), would create a study on a proposed program allowing the Criminal Justice Training Commission (CJTC) to recruit and train a pool of applicants who would be available to be employed by a law enforcement agency at a city with a population of 100,000 or fewer, or a county with a population of 300,000 or fewer.

The intent of this effort is to allow the state to create a diverse pool of applicants who meet the same requirements as a person who has received a conditional offer of employment from a law enforcement agency. Once an applicant is accepted into the pool, the person would go through basic law enforcement training and certification through the CJTC. Law enforcement agencies who hire an applicant from this pool would need to reimburse the CJTC for the costs of training that officer.

Dates to remember

HB 1387 is scheduled for public hearing in the House Community Safety, Justice & Reentry committee on Monday, February 13 at 1:30 pm and for a committee vote on Thursday, February 16 at 8 am.