Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with House amendments and pass a bill that amends requirements and regulations for elected or appointed sheriffs, police chiefs, and town marshals in Washington.

Highlights:

• Expands the requirements for individuals seeking appointment to the office of chief of police or marshal in any city or town to include the following (Sec. 2):

• They must be at least 25 years old;

• They must not have been convicted of the substantial equivalent of a felony or a gross misdemeanor under foreign law;

• They must not have engaged in conduct that constitutes denial or revocation of certification;

• They must have completed at least five years of regular, full-time law enforcement employment;

• They must obtain certification within nine months of assuming office; and

• They must complete a background check within the six months prior to their date of appointment.

• Specifies that the age and time of service requirements do not apply to individuals already holding office as chief of police or marshal, unless they seek appointment to a different office with such requirements (Sec. 2).

• Requires a city or town to terminate the appointment of a police chief or marshal whose certification is not maintained or who fails to meet the other requirements described in Section 2 (Sec. 3).

• Prohibits any law enforcement agency that uses volunteers or youth cadets to assist in its work from authorizing them to do the following without certification (Sec. 6):

• Enforce criminal laws;

• Engage in pursuits;

• Detain or arrest;

• Use force;

• Carry or use firearms or other weapons;

• Use surveillance technologies except fixed cameras within police stations; or

• Share information from law enforcement databases with any individual other than their supervisor, or the agency’s chief or marshal.

• Prohibits law enforcement agencies from authorizing volunteers or youth cadets to enforce civil immigration laws (Sec. 6).

• Authorizes law enforcement agencies to allow volunteers to assist with roles including the following (Sec. 6):

• Technical and administrative support;

• Bicycle recovery;

• Community crime prevention coordination;

• Vehicle maintenance;

• Search and rescue assistance;

• Service as faith leaders;

• Transportation;

• Parking enforcement and traffic management;

• Assistance with parks and recreation;

• Animal control and care for domestic animals; and

• Other public safety-related community service, education, and outreach work.

• Requires law enforcement agencies to enforce a dress code that clearly distinguishes volunteers, youth cadets, and specially commissioned officers from peace officers, and limits facial coverings (Sec. 6).

• Requires sheriffs and sheriff’s deputies to uphold and enforce the Constitution and laws of the state of Washington, and the United States Constitution (Sec. 8).

• Establishes additional requirements for individuals seeking election to the office of sheriff, including all requirements described in Section 2, as well as other background check requirements (Sec. 9).

• Establishes conforming provisions in other articles of code (Sec. 10-18).

• Specifies that Sections 6, 7, and 10 of this Act take effect January 1, 2027 (Sec. 19).

• Specifies that the remainder of this Act takes effect April 30, 2026 (Sec. 20).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that amends requirements and regulations for elected or appointed sheriffs, police chiefs, and town marshals in Washington.

Highlights:

• Expands the requirements for individuals seeking appointment to the office of chief of police or marshal in any city or town to include the following (Sec. 2):

• They must be at least 25 years old;

• They must not have been convicted of the substantial equivalent of a felony or a gross misdemeanor under foreign law;

• They must not have engaged in conduct that constitutes denial or revocation of certification;

• They must have completed at least five years of regular, full-time law enforcement employment;

• They must obtain certification within nine months of assuming office; and

• They must complete a background check within the six months prior to their date of appointment.

• Specifies that the age and time of service requirements do not apply to individuals already holding office as chief of police or marshal, unless they seek appointment to a different office with such requirements (Sec. 2).

• Requires a city or town to terminate the appointment of a police chief or marshal whose certification is not maintained or who fails to meet the other requirements described in Section 2 (Sec. 3).

• Prohibits any law enforcement agency that uses volunteers or youth cadets to assist in its work from authorizing them to do the following without certification (Sec. 6):

• Enforce criminal laws;

• Engage in pursuits;

• Detain or arrest;

• Use force;

• Carry or use firearms or other weapons;

• Use surveillance technologies except fixed cameras within police stations; or

• Share information from law enforcement databases with any individual other than their supervisor, or the agency’s chief or marshal.

• Prohibits law enforcement agencies from authorizing volunteers or youth cadets to enforce civil immigration laws (Sec. 6).

• Authorizes law enforcement agencies to allow volunteers to assist with roles including the following (Sec. 6):

• Technical and administrative support;

• Bicycle recovery;

• Community crime prevention coordination;

• Vehicle maintenance;

• Search and rescue assistance;

• Service as faith leaders;

• Transportation;

• Parking enforcement and traffic management;

• Assistance with parks and recreation;

• Animal control and care for domestic animals; and

• Other public safety-related community service, education, and outreach work.

• Requires law enforcement agencies to enforce a dress code that clearly distinguishes volunteers, youth cadets, and specially commissioned officers from peace officers, and limits facial coverings (Sec. 6).

• Requires sheriffs and sheriff’s deputies to uphold and enforce the Constitution and laws of the state of Washington, and the United States Constitution (Sec. 8).

• Establishes additional requirements for individuals seeking election to the office of sheriff, including all requirements described in Section 2, as well as other background check requirements (Sec. 9).

• Establishes conforming provisions in other articles of code (Sec. 10-18).

• Specifies that Sections 6, 7, and 10 of this Act take effect January 1, 2027 (Sec. 19).

• Specifies that the remainder of this Act takes effect April 30, 2026 (Sec. 20).

Full Bill Text