WHIDBEY NEWS-TIMES: Police accountability bills push through legislature

The Whidbey News-Times ran a wire-service story about several bills “to address racial equity, hiring and training, and the use of force within law enforcement” under consideration by the Washington State Legislature. The story reviews the status of these bills. Several lawmakers, all Democrats, are quoted within the story.

Below is the voting record of the 10th District’s legislators on the bills in question.

Senate

• SB5066: Concerning a peace officer’s duty to intervene. Sen. Ron Muzzall (R-Oak Harbor) sits on the Senate Ways and Means Committee, which voted 15-9 to move recommend passage of the bill. Sen. Muzzall voted against, and did so again when the bill reached the floor of the Senate. The billed passed 28-21.
• SB5259: Concerning law enforcement data collection. The Ways and Means Committee voted to recommend passage of the bill, 23-2. On the floor of the Senate, the bill passed 46-2. In both cases, Sen. Muzzall voted with the majority.
• SB5089: Concerning peace officer hiring and certification. The bill has not yet come up for a vote on the floor of the Senate.
• SB5353: Creating a partnership model that facilitates community engagement with law enforcement. Ways and Means recommended passage, 23-2, Sen. Muzzall voting in the majority. On the floor of the Senate, the bill passed 49-0.
• SB5051: Concerning state oversight and accountability of peace officers and corrections officers. In the Ways and Means Committee, 13 senators voted to recommend passage, eight voted against passage, and four (including Sen. Muzzall) made no recommendation. On the floor of the Senate, the bill passed, 26-19. Muzzall voted no.
• SB5135: Concerning unlawfully summoning a police officer. The Senate voted 28-21 to pass the bill; Sen. Muzzall opposed.
• SB5055: Concerning law enforcement personnel collective bargaining. The Senate passed the bill 41-8, with Sen. Muzzall in the majority.
• SB5436: Concerning collective bargaining over the content of reports by ombuds and the selection of ombuds and their staff who oversee law enforcement personnel. This bill has not yet reached the floor of the Senate.

House

• HB1054: Establishing requirements for tactics and equipment used by peace officers. Both Rep. Greg Gilday (R-Camano Island) and Rep. Dave Paul (D-Oak Harbor) voted against this bill when it reached the floor of the House. The bill passed 54-43.
• HB1310: Concerning permissible uses of force by law enforcement and correctional officers. On the floor of the House, Rep. Paul voted in favor and Rep. Gilday voted against. The bill passed 55-42.
• HB1088: Concerning potential impeachment disclosures. Rep. Gilday sits on the Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee as the Assistant Ranking Minority Member. In the committee, 11 members voted to recommend passage of the bill, and six members, including Gilday, voted no recommendation. The bill passed on the floor of the House, 61-37, with Rep. Paul in the majority and Rep. Gilday voting against.
• HB1089: Concerning compliance audits of requirements relating to peace officers and law enforcement agencies. The bill passed the floor of the House 80-18; both Rep. Gilday and Rep. Paul voted in favor.
• HB1001: Establishing a law enforcement professional development outreach grant program. The billed passed the House 98-0.
• HB1267: Concerning investigation of potential criminal conduct arising from police use of force, including custodial injuries, and other officer-involved incidents. The billed passed on the floor of the house, 57-39. Rep. Paul voted in favor, and Rep. Gilday against.
• HB1202: Addressing meaningful civil remedies for persons injured as a result of police misconduct, including by allowing for an award of attorney fees in addition to damages and injunctive and declaratory relief. The Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee voted 11-6 to recommend passage; Rep. Gilday voted “do not pass.” The bill has not reached the floor of the House.
• HB1262: Concerning background investigations of peace officers, reserve officers, and corrections officers. This bill has not reached the floor of the House.