The proposed bill establishes the Washington Jail Council within the governor's office to enhance jail transparency, ensure humane conditions for staff and incarcerated individuals, and promote reforms for a rehabilitative jail system. The council will consist of seven members, including individuals with lived experience of incarceration, medical and behavioral health professionals, and a licensed attorney, all appointed by the governor to serve staggered terms. The council will meet quarterly, collect and analyze data on jail operations, and publish reports on their findings. Additionally, the bill amends existing law to include the council's director or their designee in unexpected fatality review teams, grants the council access to jail facilities and records, and establishes protections against retaliation for individuals providing information to the council.

The legislation also introduces legal protections for documents and testimonies related to unexpected fatality reviews, making such documents generally inadmissible in civil or administrative proceedings, with specific exceptions. It ensures that individuals involved in these reviews cannot be deemed unavailable as witnesses solely due to their participation, although their examination in court will be limited regarding their interactions with the review process. The bill clarifies that these restrictions do not apply in cases involving licensing or disciplinary actions against professionals related to allegations of wrongdoing. Furthermore, it defines key terms for clarity and prevents jails from disclosing information that could compromise security, establishing these provisions as a new chapter in Title 43 RCW.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 70.48.510
Substitute Bill: 70.48.510