Bill > SB5209

This bill amends RCW 10.93.020, which defines various law enforcement agency types, by explicitly adding the state department of labor and industries to the list of limited authority Washington law enforcement agencies. The bill does not grant any new enforcement powers to the department, but simply includes it in the existing statutory definition. In the context of Washington state law, a "limited authority Washington law enforcement agency" is an agency with a specific, focused function of apprehending or detecting infractions or violations in a limited subject area, as opposed to a "general authority Washington law enforcement agency" which has broader law enforcement responsibilities. The bill updates the existing list of limited authority agencies, which already includes departments like natural resources, social and health services, and the state gambling commission, to now also include the department of labor and industries. This change appears to be primarily a technical clarification of the agency's statutory classification, without expanding its actual law enforcement capabilities.