The bill amends existing laws to enhance the investigative authority of supreme court bailiffs in Washington State. It introduces a new section that authorizes bailiffs to conduct threat assessments on behalf of supreme court justices and allows them to receive criminal history record information, including nonconviction data, specifically for investigating threats against justices. The bill mandates that any founded threats must be referred to local law enforcement, which is also required to report back to the bailiffs regarding the outcomes of these investigations.

Additionally, the bill amends RCW 10.97.050 to include provisions that allow the dissemination of criminal history record information containing nonconviction data to supreme court bailiffs for the purpose of their investigations. This is a significant change as it explicitly permits bailiffs to access sensitive information that was previously restricted, ensuring that they can effectively assess and respond to potential threats against the justices. The bill emphasizes the importance of confidentiality and restricts the use of this information to the purposes outlined in the new section.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 10.97.050