This bill addresses various defects and omissions in existing laws as identified by the state's judicial authorities. It amends several sections of the Revised Code of Washington (RCW), including RCW 10.116.030, which regulates the use of tear gas by law enforcement, and RCW 13.04.030, which outlines the jurisdiction of juvenile courts. Key amendments include the requirement for law enforcement to exhaust alternatives before using tear gas and to obtain authorization from a supervising officer. Additionally, the bill clarifies the definition of the "highest elected official" in different jurisdictions and updates the age thresholds for juvenile offenses, specifically changing references from "sixteen" and "seventeen" to "16" and "17," respectively.

The bill also includes the repeal of certain outdated laws related to erotic material and the removal of uncodified sections from a previous 2020 act. Furthermore, it requests the secretary of state to publish Article IX, section 1 of the state Constitution without a section caption, as the current caption does not accurately reflect the content. Overall, the bill aims to modernize and clarify existing legal frameworks while ensuring that law enforcement practices are conducted with appropriate oversight and accountability.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 10.116.030, 13.04.030, 21.20.380, 29A.80.061
Bill as Passed Legislature: 10.116.030, 13.04.030, 21.20.380, 29A.80.061
Session Law: 10.116.030, 13.04.030, 21.20.380, 29A.80.061