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Advocacy


Published on Jan 29, 2021

Police oversight bills move through committee with new amendments

Contact: Sharon Swanson, Jacob Ewing

Two bills increasing oversight of police agencies passed through the first round of committee hearings with amendments.

HB 1089, sponsored by Rep. Bill Ramos (D–Issaquah) and Rep. Roger Goodman (D–Kirkland), establishes compliance audits of law enforcement agencies through the State Auditor's Office (SAO). An adopted amendment now requires the SAO to conduct a compliance audit at the conclusion of any deadly force investigation. Previously, the SAO was authorized to conduct these investigations but not required to do so. Additionally, legislators added language stating that law enforcement agencies are not financially liable for any costs or fees associated with the SAO conducting audits under this section. The bill retains language that allows the SAO to conduct audits of law enforcement agencies to ensure the agencies are compliant with all applicable state laws, policies, and procedures.

HB 1089 received a public hearing in the House Appropriates Committee on Monday, February 1.

SB 5051, sponsored by Rep. John Lovick (D–Everett) and Rep. Roger Goodman (D–Kirkland), expands background investigations for applicants of law enforcement and corrections officer positions. It also broadens the grounds for officer decertification. An amendment adopted by the Senate Law & Justice Committee requires an employing agency, when conducting a background check, to inquire about an applicant’s affiliation with extremist organizations and to make a review of the applicant’s social media accounts. Once a background check is complete, the hiring agency must certify to the Criminal Justice Training Commission (CJTC) that it found no information that would disqualify the applicant.

Additionally, the amendment states that the CJTC must deny or revoke an officer’s certification if the officer was terminated by an agency for certain conduct, including discriminatory conduct, regardless of whether the employing agency had already disciplined the officer.

SB 5051 received a public hearing in the Senate Ways & Means Committee on Monday, February 1. AWC supports both bills and recognizes that more input from stakeholders is needed.

 

Dates to remember


HB 1089 is scheduled for executive session in the House Appropriations Committee on Thursday, February 4 at 3:30 pm.

  • Advocacy
  • Public safety & criminal justice

 

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