The bill clarifies the authority and limitations of elected sheriffs in Washington State who are not certified peace officers. It stipulates that such sheriffs retain all the authority of their office but are prohibited from performing law enforcement actions that are exclusively reserved for certified peace officers. However, they can still take actions as directed or authorized by the Constitution or state laws. Additionally, the bill establishes that if an elected sheriff's certification is revoked for conduct occurring after their term began, it will trigger recall proceedings. This applies to both discretionary and mandatory decertification, with the latter allowing for a recall without the need for signature collection.

Furthermore, the bill amends existing law regarding the signature requirements for recall petitions. It specifies that for an elected sheriff whose certification is revoked for conduct after their term began, no signatures are required to initiate a recall. The bill also updates the signature thresholds for other public officers, adjusting the required percentages based on the total votes cast in previous elections. This legislation is referred to as the "sheriffs accountability to the voters act."

Statutes affected:
Original bill: 29A.56.210