Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

CERTIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT
                       SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1638
                       Chapter 459, Laws of 2023
                               68th Legislature
                             2023 Regular Session
       STATE TROOPER EXPEDITED RECRUITMENT INCENTIVE PROGRAM
                      EFFECTIVE DATE: May 15, 2023
Passed by the House April 19, 2023                  CERTIFICATE
  Yeas 98 Nays 0
                                       I, Bernard Dean, Chief Clerk of the
                                       House of Representatives of the
            LAURIE JINKINS             State of Washington, do hereby
Speaker of the House of                certify   that    the   attached  is
Representatives                        SUBSTITUTE    HOUSE   BILL   1638 as
                                       passed     by     the     House   of
                                       Representatives and the Senate on
                                       the dates hereon set forth.
Passed by the Senate April 10, 2023
  Yeas 48 Nays 0
                                                    BERNARD DEAN
              DENNY HECK                                           Chief Clerk
President of the Senate
Approved May 15, 2023 2:59 PM                          FILED
                                                    May 16, 2023
                                               Secretary of State
              JAY INSLEE                       State of Washington
Governor of the State of Washington
                           SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1638
                            AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE
                   Passed Legislature - 2023 Regular Session
     State of Washington         68th Legislature       2023 Regular Session
     By House Transportation (originally sponsored by Representatives Fey,
     Barkis, Robertson, Lekanoff, Schmidt, Ramel, Duerr, Timmons, Eslick,
     and Jacobsen)
     READ FIRST TIME 02/17/23.
1        AN ACT Relating to the creation of a state trooper expedited
2    recruitment incentive program; adding a new section to chapter 43.43
3    RCW; creating a new section; and declaring an emergency.
4    BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
 5       NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that the Washington
 6   state patrol is experiencing historic levels of trooper vacancies,
 7   with almost 30 percent of trooper positions unfilled. At the same
 8   time, Washington is experiencing alarming increases in serious and
 9   fatal crashes on our roadways. The legislature recognizes that the
10   Washington state patrol is working on strengthening its recruiting
11   efforts, with a focus on broadening outreach to candidates from
12   marginalized communities. This historic confluence of factors
13   justifies extraordinary measures to assist the Washington state
14   patrol in its efforts to attract and retain sufficient numbers of
15   troopers for the protection of the citizens of the state of
16   Washington.
17       NEW SECTION.   Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 43.43
18   RCW to read as follows:
19       (1) The Washington state patrol shall develop and implement a
20   state trooper expedited recruitment incentive program for the purpose
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 1   of recruiting and filling vacant trooper positions. Recruitment must
 2   redouble the effort to create a more diverse workforce and must also
 3   provide an accelerated pathway for joining the state patrol for
 4   individuals who have previously been employed as a general authority
 5   peace officer.
 6       (2) The state trooper expedited recruitment incentive program
 7   established by the Washington state patrol may include:
 8       (a) Hiring procedures and an accelerated training program for
 9   lateral hires from other agencies that recognizes the knowledge and
10   experience of candidates previously employed in law enforcement; and
11       (b) A sign-on bonus or other bonus for each trooper hired through
12   the expedited recruitment incentive program.
13       (3) The establishment of the state trooper expedited recruitment
14   incentive program is subject to a change to the applicable collective
15   bargaining agreements negotiated with the exclusive bargaining
16   representatives.
17       (4) This section does not interfere with, impede, or in any way
18   diminish the right of the officers of the Washington state patrol to
19   bargain collectively with the state through the exclusive bargaining
20   representatives as provided for in RCW 41.56.473.
21       (5) Expenditures and eligibility for the state trooper expedited
22   recruitment incentive program established in this section are subject
23   to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific
24   purpose. The specific amounts, requirements, and other provisions
25   related to the bonus policy for cadet hires or lateral hires are
26   subject to applicable provisions as set forth in an omnibus
27   transportation appropriations act.
28       (6) For the purposes of this section:
29       (a) "Cadet" means a person employed for the express purpose of
30   receiving the on-the-job training required for attendance at the
31   Washington state patrol academy and for becoming a commissioned
32   trooper.
33       (b) "Lateral hire" means an eligible employee previously employed
34   as a general authority peace officer.
35       NEW SECTION.   Sec. 3.  This act is necessary for the immediate
36   preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of
37   the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes
38   effect immediately.
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Passed by the House April 19, 2023.
Passed by the Senate April 10, 2023.
Approved by the Governor May 15, 2023.
Filed in Office of Secretary of State May 16, 2023.
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