Senate Codes Committee advances bill to narrow color-vision disqualifications for police applicants

The Senate Standing Committee on Codes on March 25 reported Senate Print 4389, a bill from Senator May that would limit disqualification of police officer candidates to those with extreme color-vision deficiencies and create alternative methods for meeting the requirement after an initial failure.

The measure "ensures that color vision requirements for appointment of police officers are tailored to only eliminate individuals with extreme color vision deficiencies from eligibility," the bill summary read to the committee. The bill also "provides methods under which an individual can meet such requirements after failing to meet an initial color vision standard." The committee voted to report the bill; Senator Briscoe voted no and Senator Galvin recorded "without recommendation."

Why it matters: Supporters said the bill targets unnecessary exclusions from police hiring while preserving safety-related screening. "This bill is important on its face because it is important to make sure that officers are not discriminated against because of color blindness, so to speak," said Senator Bennett, who praised the bill's origins and public-service connection. Bennett added that the bill had been drafted originally by an intern and lauded the role of lived experience and internships in shaping policy: "…if you come to the capital and you have a great idea, not only is it welcomed and appreciated, it will be on it could be on an agenda and possibly made law."

Committee members asked staff and sponsors to clarify language after a gubernatorial veto last year. "Can we just have a response to the governor's veto message if there was any changes to the bill or just so we have an idea of how we interpret the governor's veto, who said that this would actually increase discrimination against applicants?" asked Senator Gabbard. A sponsor response noted the veto message raised concern about language that might make applicants "automatically ineligible without all the requisite testing," and said sponsors would review the veto message and consider clarifying changes.

Supporters emphasized that the bill is intended to allow applicants with mild color-vision deficiencies to still qualify. "This is intended to make it more appropriate or only people with extreme deficiencies… so people could have slight color blindness and still be helped," a committee member said during discussion.

The committee moved the bill by voice vote. The motion was recorded as moved by Senator Bailey and seconded by Senator Gennard (as announced at the meeting). The committee clerk announced the result: "All in favor signify by saying aye. Aye." The clerk named Senator Briscoe as voting no and Senator Galvin as voting without recommendation; the chair stated "the bill is reported." No statutory citations or implementing rule language were offered on the record; sponsors said rules to implement the bill would be promulgated if it becomes law.

The committee did not adopt any amendment on the floor during the committee meeting. Sponsors signaled they would review the governor's veto message language and consider technical clarifications before future floor action.

The committee advanced several other bills that day; the action on Senate Print 4389 was among them.