COPS Hiring Recovery Program (CHRP) – Grant applications due: April 14, 2009

On March 16, 2009, the U.S. Department of Justice released information for grant applications for the COPS Hiring Recovery Program. Up to $1 Billion in competitive grants are available to provide funding directly to law enforcement agencies having primary law enforcement authority to create and preserve jobs and to increase their community policing capacity and crime-prevention efforts.

CHRP grants will provide 100 percent funding for approved entry-level salaries and benefits for 3 years (36 months) for newly-hired, full-time sworn officer positions (including filling existing unfunded vacancies) or for rehired officers who have been laid off, or are scheduled to be laid off on a future date, as a result of local budget cuts. At the conclusion of federal funding, grantees must retain all sworn officer positions awarded under the CHRP grant.

More information can be found at: www.cops.usdoj.gov/Default.asp?Item=2108.

Addressing claims for damages against the state and local governmental entities (ESHB 1553)

This bill will be heard in the Senate Government Operations & Elections committee on Thursday, March 26 at 3:30 pm. The current form requires local governments to use a standard tort claim form when presented with a claim, rather than one developed locally. It also adds 5 days to the three year statute of limitations within which a claim must be filed, allows the party’s attorney or agent to sign the claim on behalf of the party, makes the claim for damages inadmissible at trial, and changes the standards so that "substantial compliance" with procedural requirements is satisfactory.

While it is greatly improved compared to its original state, the sum total of all these changes appears to make it more difficult for local governments to defend themselves against tort claims. We remain opposed to the "substantial compliance" standard and will continue to work with state and other local governments to oppose this bill in its current form.

Changing the membership to the state interoperability executive committee (ESHB 1496)

This bill will be heard in the Senate Government Operations & Elections committee on Thursday, March 26 at 3:30 pm. This bill expands and clarifies membership of the committee. Voting members are expanded to include representatives of local police, the State Emergency Managers Association, the State Emergency Management Division, and a tribal representative. A number of non-voting members are also invited to participate.

Creating a spirit, beer, and wine nightclub license (SSB 5367)

SSB 5367 was heard in the House Commerce & Labor Committee on March 20. It creates a new license for nightclubs and allows local governments to petition the Liquor Control Board (LCB) to impose additional requirements on nightclub licensees because these establishments are generally the type that may require added law enforcement resources.

The bill increases the number of licenses that may be granted, though an overall cap is retained. AWC is fully supportive of this LCB request, and appreciates their willingness to accommodate our concerns.

Liquor Control Board discussions on local government objections to liquor licenses

Liquor Control Board (LCB) representatives are in the process of scheduling meetings across Washington in 2009 to meet with local officials about how to more effectively make their voice heard on problem liquor licenses. Legislation enacted in 2007 gives "substantial weight" to objections from local authorities regarding new liquor licenses or annual renewals.

So far this year, sessions have been held in Clark and Thurston Counties, and the next session is scheduled in Bellingham on Friday, April 3. For more information, please click on www.awcnet.org/documents/LCBsessions.pdf.

Regulating legal proceedings involving public hazards (SB 5886)

This bill aimed at product liability litigation originally included a broad definition of public hazard that was fixed in the current version of the bill. The fix addressed city concerns about potential application to other public hazards, including road hazards required to be compiled for federal transportation funding. Thanks to Puyallup city attorney Cheryl Carlson for her assistance. With these changes, AWC is no longer opposed.

Rental vouchers to allow release from state institutions (SB 5525)

Currently offenders in state prisons can earn early release for good behavior, but the release can only take place if they have an approved release plan that includes a proposed residence. Without an approved release plan, the Department of Corrections (DOC) must hold the offender past their early release date. This bill allows the DOC to provide rental vouchers to an offender for a period up to three months if rental assistance will enable the offender to have an approved release plan. Potential impacts include a cost savings to the state because early release from prison into rental housing is a cheaper alternative. A stable housing post-release has also been shown to help offenders transition back into the community.

SB 5525 will be heard in the House Human Services Committee on Monday, March 23 at 1:30 pm. AWC currently has not taken a position on the bill and would welcome city input about potential impacts.

Focus group on housing needs for certain populations at risk of being homeless (SSB 5219)

SSB 5219 will be heard in the House Local Government & Housing Committee on Monday, March 23 at 1:30 pm. Many homeless housing assistance programs risk cuts in the upcoming budget process. This bill establishes a focus group to address housing for individuals at high risk of being homeless. The focus group will include legislative members as well as representatives from the Department of Corrections, the Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development, the Department of Social and Health Services, the Department of Veterans Affairs; and the Interagency Council on Homelessness.

The focus group is required to report by November 2009 on recommendations such as:

Identification and removal of barriers for individuals at risk of being homeless;
Inventory and review of existing programs that serve these populations;
Advisable methods of providing housing assistance in the future; and
Methods to encourage private landlords to provide housing to at-risk populations.

While cities do not have a formal appointment to the focus group, city officials who might be interested in participating are asked to contact Tammy Fellin at tammyf@awcnet.org.

Allowing law enforcement and court access to driver's license photographs for the purposes of identity verification (ESSB 5262)

This bill to provide law enforcement access to the Department of Licensing’s database of license photos will be heard in the House Public Safety & Emergency Preparedness Committee on Tuesday, March 24 at 10 am. It is supported by the Washington Association of Sheriff and Police Chiefs (WASPC) as a method for enabling better identification of people who interact with law enforcement. AWC is supportive.

Concerning conveyances used in prostitution-related offenses (ESHB 1362)

This AWC-endorsed proposal to allow impoundment and forfeiture of vehicles used in prostitution related offenses in designated problem areas continues to work its way through the legislative process. It will be heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, March 24 at 10 am.

Operating and administering a drug court program (SHB 1919)

SHB 1919 will be heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, March 24 at 10 am. It adds drug court operations and administration to the list of purposes for which counties may use criminal justice treatment account funding. Drug court operation purposes would be limited to ten percent of the available funding in the account, which currently funds treatment for offenders and treatment-related expenses of drug courts, but may not be used for administrative purposes.

Providing certain procedures for tenants who are victims of sexual assault, unlawful harassment, and stalking (SHB 1856)

This bill adds a tenant who is a victim of sexual assault, stalking, or unlawful harassment by a landlord, or any other alleged perpetrator to the list of reasons a tenant may terminate the rental agreement and be discharged from any further obligations under the agreement. The tenant may also change or add locks to the tenant's dwelling at the tenant's expense with proper notice to the landlord of the protection order or record of report. SHB 1856 will be heard in the Senate Human Services & Corrections Committee on Tuesday, March 24 at 1:30 pm.

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