Bill > HB1740

This bill expands the Office of Independent Investigations (OII) to include prosecutorial powers for cases involving deadly force by law enforcement officers. The bill creates an independent prosecutor position with the authority to investigate and prosecute use of deadly force incidents, whether the victim is in-custody or out-of-custody. Key provisions include establishing that the independent prosecutor will have final decision-making authority for hiring staff, filing criminal charges, and litigating cases. The bill requires the independent prosecutor to meet specific criteria, including being licensed to practice law in Washington, having no documented criminal history involving dishonesty or discrimination, and undergoing a background check. The independent prosecutor will serve a three-year term and be responsible for ensuring victim and family communication, establishing conflict of interest screening procedures, and providing public reports when declining to file charges in fatal use of force cases. Additionally, the bill increases the advisory board from 11 to 13 members, adds more diverse representation, and explicitly outlines the board's role in providing input on office operations and leadership selection. The overall goal is to create a more transparent, independent process for investigating and potentially prosecuting cases of law enforcement use of deadly force.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1740&Year=2025&Initiative=false