ESB 5286
In CommitteeSenate
State hospitals/police costs
Concerning policing costs driven by proximity to state hospitals.
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 creates or continues state-supported community policing programs near Eastern State Hospital (in Medical Lake) and Western State Hospital (in Lakewood), with state funding to help cover local police costs. It also requires annual reporting on program activity and spending.
- Establishes a new community partnership program between the Department of Health and the city of Medical Lake to support policing near Eastern State Hospital.
- Formalizes and continues an existing partnership between the Department of Health and the city of Lakewood to support policing near Western State Hospital.
- Requires the state to provide annual funding to both cities, with amounts set in the biennial budget and based on hospital size and local needs.
- Allows program designs to vary by city to meet specific community needs, and clarifies this funding is in addition to any money already allocated for police services.
- Requires the Department of Health to collect and submit annual data on program spending and call responses to the Office of Financial Management and legislative fiscal committees by December 1 each year.
Who is affected
- City of Medical Lake — The city of Medical Lake receives state funding to support community policing efforts near Eastern State Hospital, helping cover police-related costs in that area.
- City of Lakewood — The city of Lakewood continues to receive state funding to support community policing efforts near Western State Hospital, helping cover police-related costs in that area.
- State hospitals (Eastern and Western) — Eastern and Western State Hospitals benefit from increased local police presence and coordination, potentially improving safety and response to incidents on or near hospital grounds.
- State agencies (Department of Health, Office of Financial Management, Legislature) — State government (via the Department of Health and Office of Financial Management) must track and report on program spending and outcomes annually.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for benefits
Potential Benefits (3)
The bill provides dedicated state funding to support community policing near state hospitals, directly reducing the financial burden on the cities of Medical Lake and Lakewood to fund these services. This is especially valuable for smaller cities with limited tax bases, helping them maintain or expand police presence without raising local taxes.
Local GovernmentPeopleRef: Sec. 1(3)By formalizing and expanding state-supported community policing near two major state hospitals, the bill improves coordination between law enforcement and mental health services, potentially reducing crisis-related calls for service and improving safety for patients, staff, and nearby residents.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1(1), (2)The annual reporting requirement creates transparency and accountability for how state funds are used in community policing, enabling legislative oversight and data-driven improvements to program design — a step toward more equitable and effective policing practices.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1(4)
Potential Concerns (3)
The bill mandates that state funding for community policing be *in addition to* existing police service appropriations, but does not require the cities to reduce other local spending or reallocate funds — meaning the net fiscal burden on local budgets is likely neutral or slightly positive. However, because the funding is tied to hospital size and not to actual need or performance metrics, it may misallocate resources and create inefficiencies in local budgeting without guaranteeing improved outcomes.
Local GovernmentPeopleRef: Sec. 1(3)The bill allows program designs to vary by city, which increases flexibility but reduces standardization and accountability. Without standardized performance benchmarks or evaluation criteria, it is unclear whether the programs will meaningfully improve public safety or reduce crime — potentially leading to inconsistent or ineffective policing near hospitals.
Public SafetyLean peopleRef: Sec. 1(3)The annual reporting requirement places a modest administrative burden on the Department of Health and local governments to collect and submit data. While not financially burdensome, this adds bureaucratic overhead and diverts staff time from other priorities, especially for small municipalities like Medical Lake.
Local GovernmentLean peopleRef: Sec. 1(4)
Who Is Most Affected
The City of Medical Lake receives targeted state funding to support community policing near Eastern State Hospital, reducing its local fiscal burden and enabling more consistent police presence in a high-need area. However, as a small city with limited administrative capacity, it may face challenges in managing and reporting on the program.
The City of Lakewood benefits from continued and formalized state funding for policing near Western State Hospital, supporting its existing program and potentially expanding capacity. As a larger city, it has more resources to manage reporting and program evaluation than Medical Lake.
Eastern and Western State Hospitals benefit from improved local police presence and coordination, which may reduce incidents involving patients in crisis and improve safety for staff and visitors. However, the bill does not directly fund hospital security or mental health staff, so benefits are indirect.
The Department of Health gains new responsibilities for data collection and reporting, increasing its administrative workload but also expanding its role in public safety coordination. The Office of Financial Management and Legislature gain oversight tools but no new authority.
Residents near the hospitals may benefit from improved public safety and reduced crisis-related calls for service, especially if community policing leads to better de-escalation and mental health response. However, without standardized metrics, it is unclear whether benefits will be equitably distributed.