(1) The secretary of
corrections shall appoint institutional chaplains for the state
correctional institutions for convicted felons. Institutional
chaplains shall be appointed as employees of the department of
corrections. The secretary of corrections may further contract
with chaplains to be employed as is necessary to meet the
religious needs of those inmates whose religious denominations
are not represented by institutional chaplains and where
volunteer chaplains are not available.
(2) Institutional chaplains appointed by the department of
corrections under this section shall have qualifications
necessary to function as religious program coordinators for all
faith groups represented within the department. Every chaplain
so appointed or contracted with shall have qualifications
consistent with community standards of the given faith group to
which the chaplain belongs and shall not be required to violate
the tenets of his or her faith when acting in an ecclesiastical
role.
(3) The secretary of social and health services shall
appoint chaplains for the correctional institutions for juveniles
found delinquent by the juvenile courts; and the secretary of
corrections and the secretary of social and health services shall
appoint one or more chaplains for other custodial, correctional,
and mental institutions under their control.
(4) Except as provided in this section, the chaplains so
appointed under this section shall have the qualifications and
shall be compensated in an amount as recommended by the
appointing department and approved by the Washington personnel
resources board.
[2008 c 104 § 3; 1993 c 281 § 62; 1981 c 136 § 69; 1979 c 141 § 154; 1967 c 58 § 1; 1959 c 33 § 1; 1959 c 28 §72.01.210 . Prior: 1955 c 248 § 1. Formerly RCW 72.04.160.]
NOTES:
Finding -- 2008 c 104: See note following RCW 72.09.800.
Effective date -- 1993 c 281: See note following RCW 41.06.022.
Housing allowance for state-employed chaplains: RCW 41.04.360.
Washington personnel resources board: RCW 41.06.110.