SHB 1783
In CommitteeHouse
Law enf. officers/colleges
Concerning law enforcement officers participating in college and technical school programs.
This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
This bill permits Washington’s community and technical colleges to pay honoraria to law enforcement officers for delivering guest presentations in criminal justice–related courses, as long as the work is done outside the officer’s regular duties. It updates state ethics rules to allow this practice and aims to strengthen ties between training programs and local law enforcement agencies.
- Allows colleges and technical schools to pay honoraria to certified law enforcement officers (general or limited authority peace officers) for delivering guest presentations in criminal justice–related courses, as long as the presentation occurs outside the officer’s official duties.
- Clarifies that such honoraria payments are not considered a conflict of interest or prohibited outside employment, provided specific ethics rules are followed.
- Amends state ethics law (RCW 42.52.120) to explicitly permit general and limited authority peace officers to accept honoraria for educational presentations under the new authorization.
- Includes a legislative finding that such participation can help rebuild trust between law enforcement and communities, support recruitment, and improve education quality through real-world expertise.
Who is affected
- Law enforcement officers (general and limited authority Washington peace officers) — Law enforcement officers who are certified and work for local agencies may now be paid honoraria for giving guest lectures or presentations in college or technical school courses—specifically in criminal justice–related programs—when the presentation occurs outside their regular job duties.
- Colleges and technical schools (especially those offering criminal justice programs) — Community and technical colleges, as well as other higher education institutions, gain the ability to legally pay law enforcement officers for educational outreach, helping strengthen ties between training programs and local agencies.
- Students in criminal justice and related programs — Students in criminal justice, law enforcement, or related programs benefit from increased access to real-world insights and mentorship from active officers, potentially improving their preparation for careers in public safety.
- State ethics oversight agencies — State ethics oversight bodies (e.g., the Public Ethics Commission) must ensure compliance with ethics rules for officers receiving honoraria, though the bill explicitly clarifies this activity is permitted under certain conditions.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for benefits
Potential Benefits (3)
Students in criminal justice programs gain direct access to current law enforcement practitioners, improving curriculum relevance and job readiness—especially beneficial for first-generation and low-income students who rely on program quality to secure employment.
EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 2(2); Sec. 3(6)By enabling active officers to share real-world experience in classrooms, the bill may improve community trust in law enforcement—particularly in communities historically skeptical of policing—by humanizing officers and aligning training with de-escalation, cultural competency, and procedural justice principles.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 2(2); Sec. 3(6)Law enforcement officers—especially those in lower-paid regional or rural agencies—can earn supplemental income through honoraria, helping retain experienced personnel in public safety roles amid persistent staffing shortages.
Business & EmploymentPeopleRef: Sec. 2(1); Sec. 2(2)
Potential Concerns (3)
The bill may increase strain on local law enforcement resources, as officers may face pressure to accept honoraria engagements to supplement income—potentially diverting time from core duties, especially in understaffed departments where officers already work significant overtime.
Local GovernmentRef: Sec. 2(2); Sec. 3(6)If honoraria payments become a routine expectation rather than occasional guest participation, departments may face internal equity issues—officers in high-demand specialties (e.g., cybercrime, forensics) may be over-requested while others are underutilized, undermining team cohesion and operational readiness.
Public SafetyRef: Sec. 2(2); Sec. 3(6)The bill does not address whether honoraria payments will be subject to state retirement system (PERS) contributions or tax withholding, creating administrative uncertainty for both officers and colleges—potentially leading to compliance errors or underfunded retirement benefits.
Business & EmploymentRef: Sec. 2(2); Sec. 3(6)
Who Is Most Affected
Officers in smaller or rural agencies—where salaries are lower and overtime is common—may be most likely to accept honoraria, but also most vulnerable to being overburdened if such engagements become expected rather than optional. Impact is mixed: positive income boost, but potential for role blurring and fatigue.
Students in community and technical college criminal justice programs—many of whom are low-income, first-generation, or people of color—gain access to real-world insights that improve job placement and reduce the 'ivory tower' disconnect in training. Impact is strongly positive.
Colleges gain flexibility to improve curriculum quality without new state funding, but must navigate HR and ethics compliance for honoraria payments. Small colleges with limited legal/HR staff may face administrative burden. Impact is neutral to slightly positive.
Larger municipal departments in high-cost urban areas may see less need for honoraria as supplemental income, but benefit from improved recruitment and community relations. Smaller departments may rely more on honoraria to retain staff. Impact is mixed and uneven.