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2011 House Bill 1567: Requiring background checks for peace officers and reserve officers
  1. Introduced by Rep. Charles Ross, (R-Naches) (R) on January 25, 2011, to require a background investigation, including a check of criminal history and a psychological examination, for peace officers and reserve officers as a condition of employment. (Companion: SB 5435).
    • Referred to the House Public Safety & Emergency Preparedness Committee on January 25, 2011.
      • Substitute offered in the House on February 16, 2011, requires the polygraph test be administered in compliance with standards established by the CJTC. The substitute passed by voice vote in the House on February 16, 2011.
    • Referred to the House Rules Committee on February 17, 2011.
  2. Passed 98 to 0 in the House on February 25, 2011, to require an applicant offered a conditional offer of employment as a peace officer or reserve officer to submit to a background investigation, including a check of criminal history. Requires the Criminal Justice Training Commission to deny certification to a peace officer who has a break in law enforcement service of two years if the officer fails to comply with the background investigation requirement.
    Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

  3. Received in the Senate on March 1, 2011.
    • Referred to the Senate Human Services & Corrections Committee on March 1, 2011.
      • Amendment offered in the Senate on March 25, 2011, to provide that if an alternative test to a polygraph test is employed, it must be administered in compliance with the rules of the CJTC but need not be administered by an accredited polygrapher. The amendment passed by voice vote in the Senate on March 25, 2011.
    • Referred to the Senate Rules Committee on April 4, 2011.
  4. Passed 49 to 0 in the Senate on April 6, 2011, require an applicant offered a conditional offer of employment as a peace officer or reserve officer to submit to a background investigation, including a check of criminal history. Requires the Criminal Justice Training Commission to deny certification to a peace officer who has a break in law enforcement service of two years if the officer fails to comply with the background investigation requirement. This bill provides that if an alternative test to a polygraph test is employed, it must be administered in compliance with the rules of the CJTC but need not be administered by an accredited polygrapher.
    Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

  5. Received in the House on April 13, 2011.
  6. Passed 96 to 0 in the House on April 13, 2011, House concurred with Senate amendments. This bill requires an applicant offered a conditional offer of employment as a peace officer or reserve officer to submit to a background investigation, including a check of criminal history. Requires the Criminal Justice Training Commission to deny certification to a peace officer who has a break in law enforcement service of two years if the officer fails to comply with the background investigation requirement. This bill provides that if an alternative test to a polygraph test is employed, it must be administered in compliance with the rules of the CJTC but need not be administered by an accredited polygrapher.
    Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

  7. Signed by Gov. Christine Gregoire on May 3, 2011, requires an applicant offered a conditional offer of employment as a peace officer or reserve officer to submit to a background investigation, including a check of criminal history. Requires the Criminal Justice Training Commission to deny certification to a peace officer who has a break in law enforcement service of two years if the officer fails to comply with the background investigation requirement. This bill provides that if an alternative test to a polygraph test is employed, it must be administered in compliance with the rules of the CJTC but need not be administered by an accredited polygrapher.

Comments

Re: 2011 House Bill 1567 (Requiring background checks for peace officers and reserve officers)  by rperegrin on March 9, 2011 

This bill will have an adverse affect on Law Enforcement screening for Washington State.  The language in the bill will allow Truth Verification Examiner’s to administer polygraph or other similar devices without being certified by the American Polygraph Association.


 This was attempted 2 or 3 years ago when some law enforcement agencies wanted to use a Computerized  Voice Stress Analyzer (CVSA) for Peace Officer Certification when they have not been validated as being reliable.


 This will have a devastating affect on the validity of the screening process for peace officer’s.  This could allow sex offender’s who have not been charged with a crime to become police officer’s.


 Some agencies wanted to use this because it is very inexpensive.  A CVSA examiner goes to school for 3 to 5 days and is certified by the school as an instructor when he leaves.  A polygraph examiner takes 2 to 3 years to get certified and is required to attend continued education every year to maintain national certification.  You can see the difference in the process and administration of a truth verification examination.


 Please call me if you have any questions.  I also have information that is available and a CD showing large law suites against police agencies for using the CVSA because it has not been shown to be reliable or valid.


 60 minutes had a one hour program on this same device showing the danger of using it. 



2011 House Bill 1567 (Requiring background checks for peace officers and reserve officers)  by admin on January 1, 2001 
Introduced in the House on January 25, 2011, to require an applicant offered a conditional offer of employment as a peace officer or reserve officer to submit to a background investigation, including a check of criminal history. Requires the Criminal Justice Training Commission to deny certification to a peace officer who has a break in law enforcement service of two years if the officer fails to comply with the background investigation requirement

The vote was 98 in favor, 0 opposed and 0 not voting

(House Roll Call 0 at House Journal 0)

Click here to view bill details.