This bill creates a new law enforcement aviation support grant program by adding two new sections to chapter 38.52 RCW. The program must be developed and implemented by "the department" subject to amounts appropriated in the omnibus appropriations act; if specific funding for this act is not provided by June 30, 2025, the act is null and void. The department is directed to use a statewide association of law enforcement executives to identify and recognize local law enforcement rotary wing aviation support units that offer aviation support to any jurisdiction reachable by their unit whenever an aircraft is available without any financial obligation by the requesting jurisdiction (refueling is explicitly not considered a financial obligation). The bill requires the department to equally distribute 50 percent of the amounts appropriated each fiscal year to those recognized local rotary wing units. Those distributed funds must be used to maintain and operate rotary wing aviation support units, including pilot and crew costs, aircraft maintenance, upgrades, acquisition, insurance, fuel, training, and other reasonable and necessary operating expenses. Of the remaining appropriated funds each fiscal year, the department must make funds available so recognized units can submit and be reimbursed for costs associated with search and rescue missions or search and rescue training missions conducted by the unit, regardless of where the mission took place; reimbursable search and rescue costs include fuel, maintenance, and pilot and crew costs, while depreciation is not reimbursable. Any amounts remaining at the end of the fiscal year, after recognized units have had a reasonable opportunity to submit allowable unreimbursed search and rescue mission costs, must be awarded to the aviation section of the Washington State Patrol. Funds awarded under the program must supplement, not supplant, existing local funding for aviation support units. The statutory text in the provided facts does not identify which agency is meant by "the department," does not define "local law enforcement rotary wing aviation support units," does not set criteria or procedures for the statewide association's recognition process, and does not provide application, documentation, reimbursement procedures, specific appropriation amounts, or definitions for "search and rescue missions" or "reasonable opportunity" to submit costs.

If funded, the bill creates a new state grant program that will send half of authorized money each year in equal shares to law enforcement rotary wing aviation units that a statewide chiefs association recognizes, with those shares explicitly usable for operating costs (pilots and crew, maintenance, upgrades, insurance, fuel, training and similar expenses). The remainder of the annual appropriation is set aside to reimburse recognized units for search-and-rescue mission and training costs (fuel, maintenance, pilot and crew costs; depreciation is excluded), and any unclaimed dollars at year-end would go to the Washington State Patrol aviation section. The law also says refueling a responding aircraft isn’t a financial obligation for the requesting jurisdiction and requires state funds to supplement, not replace, local funding. Practically, local sheriff and police aviation units that gain recognition could receive a new, predictable source of state money to lower operating and SAR response costs, and the State Patrol’s aviation unit could receive leftover funding. However, the bill leaves key details unclear — it does not name the implementing department, define which units qualify, explain the recognition or reimbursement processes, or specify appropriation amounts — so agencies and units will face uncertainty about eligibility, timing, and total funding. The program also depends on an appropriation in the omnibus budget by June 30, 2025 or it will not take effect.