SB 5974 — Modernizing and strengthening laws concerning sheriffs, police chiefs, town marshals, law enforcement agency volunteers, youth cadets, specially commissioned officers, and police matrons.

S-4267.1S-3419.5 SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5974 State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session By Senate Law & Justice (originally sponsored by Senators Lovick, Dhingra, Chapman, Frame, Nobles, Pedersen, Salomon, Stanford, Trudeau, Valdez, and Wellman)Wellman READPrefiled FIRST01/05/26. TIME 01/23/26.

Read first time 01/12/26.

Referred to Committee on Law & Justice.

1 SSBSB 5974 requirements for any elected official, the only requirement for sheriffs in existing law is completion of academy training within 12 months of being elected, and this requirement applies only to persons who have been elected to the office, and not to appointed sheriffs.

2 SSBSB 5974 of their county as they may deem necessary" has been interpreted by some as authorizing volunteers to enforce criminal laws or civil immigration laws, engage in pursuits, detain or arrest, or use force, without the training and certification required of law enforcement officers and without accountability in the event of misconduct.

3 SSBSB 5974 Sec.

4 SSBSB 5974 under RCW 43.101.095, and if certified, has met the requirements in (a) through (i) of this subsection.

5 SSBSB 5974 Sec.

6 SSBSB 5974 public authorities in the lawful exercise of their functions and shall be entitled to the same protection.

7 SSBSB 5974 (1)(a) Any law enforcement agency in any city or town that uses volunteers or youth cadets, as defined in this section, to assist in the work of its law enforcement agency may not authorize them, unless they have completed peace officer training and maintained certification requirements, to enforce criminal laws or civil immigration laws;

8 SSBSB 5974 (b) Any city or town that uses volunteers, youth cadets, or specially commissioned officers must adopt or amend its laws and ordinances to comply with the requirements of this section.

(1)(a) Any law enforcement agency in any code city that uses volunteers or youth cadets, as defined in section 6 of this act, to assist in the work of its law enforcement agency may not provide authority to these volunteers, unless they have completed peace officer training and maintained certification requirements, to enforce criminal laws or civil immigration laws;

9 SSBSB 5974 acting pursuant to RCW 10.93.050.

10 SSBSB 5974 (((5))) (6) Shall ((attend the sessions of the courts of record held within the county, and)) obey ((their)) lawful judicial orders or directions;

11 SSBSB 5974 10.93.050.

12 SSBSB 5974 (f) Has not engaged in and does not engage in conduct meeting the criteria requiring denial or revocation of certification set forth in RCW 43.101.105(2);

13 SSBSB 5974 investigation to the commission for verification.

14 SSBSB 5974 requirements of this section have been met.

15 SSBSB 5974 bicycle recovery, community crime prevention coordination, vehicle maintenance, helping with search and rescue, serving as faith leaders, transport, parking enforcement and traffic management, assisting with parks and recreation, animal control and caring for domestic animals, and other public safety-related community service, education, and outreach work.

16 SSBSB 5974 the other requirements of RCW 36.28.025 are determined to have not been met or to have not been complied with while in office.

When a vacancy has been created, if it is a partisan elective office, the vacancycounty legislative authority of that county shall beappoint filleda pursuantreplacement to RCWfill 36.16.110.the office.

If it is a nonpartisan elective office, the county executive or the county legislative authority of that county shall appoint a replacement to fill the office.

(7)p. The decision of a competent tribunal declaring void ((his or her)) the incumbent's election or appointment;

((or))17 p.SB 5974 (7) The decision of a competent tribunal declaring void ((his or her)) the incumbent's election or appointment;

17((or)) SSB 5974 (8) Whenever a judgment shall be obtained against that incumbent for breach of the condition of ((his or her)) their official bond;

This requirement does not apply to any person whose certification has lapsed as a result of a break of more than 24 consecutive months in the officer's service as a result of being recalled into military service.p.

Employing18 agenciesSB and5974 appointingservice. authorities may only make a conditional offer of employment pending completion of the p.

18Employing SSBagencies 5974and appointing authorities may only make a conditional offer of employment pending completion of the background ((check)) investigation and shall ((verify)) attest in writing to the commission that they have complied with all background ((check)) investigation requirements prior to making any nonconditional offer of employment.

(vi) A psychological examination administered by a psychiatrist licensed in the state of Washington pursuant to chapter 18.71 RCW or a psychologist licensed in the state of Washington pursuant to chapterp. 18.83 RCW, in compliance with standards established in rules of the commission;

p.19 SB 5974 chapter 18.83 RCW, in compliance with standards established in rules of the commission;

19 SSB 5974 (vii) A polygraph or similar assessment administered by an experienced professional with appropriate training and in compliance with standards established in rules of the commission;

(a) On a form devised or adopted by the commission, authorize the release to the employing county, city, or agency and to the commission of the officer's personnel files, including disciplinary, termination, civil or criminal investigation, or other records or information that are directly related to a certification matter or p.

20 SSBSB 5974 information that are directly related to a certification matter or decertification matter before the commission((.

21 SSBSB 5974 candidate meets all eligibility requirements pursuant to RCW 36.28.025.

22 SSBSB 5974 43.101.105(3), with factors to be considered by the agency or by the commission in making that discretionary determination.

23 SSBSB 5974 (5) A person whose certification is denied or revoked for reasons other than provided in subsections (1) through (3) of this section may, five years after the revocation or denial, petition the commission for reinstatement of the certificate or for eligibility for reinstatement.

24 SSBSB 5974 Sec.

25 SSBSB 5974 representative of a law enforcement or corrections agency considering an application for employment by a person who is the subject of a record.

26 SSBSB 5974 NEW SECTION.

27 SSBSB 5974