Bill limiting law enforcement actions at court facilities passes both chambers

The House and Senate passed a bill that establishes new procedures for law enforcement officers visiting Washington court facilities.

HB 2567 outlines several changes affecting law enforcement, court staff, and individuals visiting court facilities, including:

• Restricting state or federal law enforcement officers from conducting civil arrests of an individual who is going to, remaining at, or leaving a court facility. The bill specifies that civil arrests of these individuals may not take place within a one-mile radius of the court facility. Law enforcement may still conduct arrests for criminal violations or contempt of court.
• Requiring court security personnel to collect information regarding all on-duty law enforcement officers entering court facilities. The Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) will establish the nature of the information collected. However, if an officer is present in the courts to participate in a case or court proceedings, they are exempt from disclosing information to court security.
• Requiring courts to submit monthly reports of law enforcement activity at court facilities to the AOC. The AOC, in turn, will publish quarterly reports.
• Directing courts to establish a system to notify designated court staff if law enforcement is present in a court facility to conduct a civil arrest.

Under the bill, courts cannot inquire regarding an individual’s place of birth or immigration status during court proceedings unless the information directly relates to the court case. Additionally, court personnel may not disclose an individual’s place of birth or immigration status to federal authorities.

The bill allows for state and local agencies and law enforcement to send and receive information from Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) and any other federal, state, or local government agency when necessary to comply with state or federal law.

HB 2567 now heads to the Governor’s desk for signature.