Washington State
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research
BILL
ANALYSIS
Appropriations Committee
HB 1435
Brief Description: Creating a law enforcement hiring grant program.
Sponsors: Representatives Abell, Richards, Corry, Schmidt, Klicker, Paul, Low, Connors, Rude, Caldier, Mendoza, Jacobsen, Davis, Ley, Barkis, Springer, Schmick, Nance, Bernbaum, Manjarrez, Engell, Dufault and Pollet.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Instructs the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission (Commission) to develop and implement a law enforcement hiring grant program to assist in hiring and retention efforts at local and tribal law enforcement agencies.
  • Requires the Commission to report to the Legislature on the program.
Hearing Date: 2/5/25
Staff: Sydney Jeffrey (786-7303).
Background:

The Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission (Commission) establishes standards and provides education and training to law enforcement and correctional officers in Washington. ?The Commission also has the authority to certify and decertify peace officers and corrections officers, in addition to administering grants related to law enforcement hiring and retention.

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A general authority Washington law enforcement agency is any agency, department, or division of a municipal corporation, political subdivision, or other unit of local government of Washington, and any agency, department, or division of state government, having as its primary function the detection and apprehension of persons committing infractions or violating the traffic or criminal laws in general.

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A general authority Washington peace officer is any fully compensated and elected, appointed, or employed officer of a general authority Washington law enforcement agency who is commissioned to enforce the criminal laws of the state of Washington generally.

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A tribal police officer is any person in the employ of one of the federally recognized sovereign tribal governments, whose traditional lands and territories lie within the borders of the state of Washington, to enforce the criminal laws of that government.

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A limited authority Washington law enforcement agency is any agency, political subdivision, or unit of local government of this state, and any agency, department, or division of state government having as one of its functions the apprehension or detection of persons committing infractions or violating the traffic or criminal laws relating to limited subject areas.

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A limited authority Washington peace officer is any fully compensated officer of a limited authority Washington law enforcement agency empowered by that agency to detect or apprehend violators of the laws in some or all of the limited subject areas for which the agency is responsible.

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As of 2024 there were 10,540 general authority peace officers and certified tribal police officers, and 233 limited authority peace officers employed throughout the state.?
Summary of Bill:

The Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission (Commission) must develop and implement a law enforcement hiring grant program to assist in the hiring and retention of new law enforcement officers at local and tribal law enforcement agencies.

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Funding provided may only be used to provide grants that cover up to 75 percent of the entry-level salaries and fringe benefits of full-time local or tribal law enforcement officers for a maximum of 36 months. ?There is a minimum 25 percent local cost share requirement and a maximum state cost share requirement of $125,000 per law enforcement officer. ?Any additional costs for salaries and benefits higher than entry-level are the responsibility of the recipient agency.

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Beginning July 31, 2025, the Commission must report to the Legislature annually on program statistics, including:

  • the total count of law enforcement grant applications received by the Commission by fiscal year;
  • the total count of law enforcement officer positions applied for by fiscal year;
  • the total count of grant funding requested by fiscal year;
  • the name of each law enforcement entity that applied for the grant, how many officers they requested funding for, and how much state funding they requested by fiscal year; and
  • the count of grants awarded, to include the name of each law enforcement entity that was an award recipient for the grant, how many officers they received funding for, and how much state funding they were awarded by fiscal year.
Appropriation: The sum of $100,000,000 is appropriated from the General Fund to the Criminal Justice Training Commission.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.