Oregon Public Broadcasting

The murders of six Western Washington police officers in the final months of 2009 had an indelible impact on the 2010 Washington legislature.

Over the past 60-days, lawmakers passed several public safety bills including a constitutional amendment -- that now goes to voters -- to make it easier for judges to withhold bail.  Austin Jenkins reports.

The raw emotions from the shooting deaths of a Seattle police officer, four from Lakewood, Washington and a Pierce County Deputy carried into the 2010 legislative session.

In addition to the constitutional amendment, a taskforce will be convened to study Washington's bail system.

Governor Chris Gregoire praised lawmakers for removing the requirement that cops and firefighters serve 10-years before their families are eligible for survivor benefits.

Chris Gregoire: "We've given reassurances to the families of fallen officers killed in the line of duty that the state will honor their sacrifice."

However, lawmakers did not remove the so-called "remarriage penalty."

Currently spouses of fallen officers who remarry lose their survivor benefits.

Lawmakers also did not approve a proposal by the governor to create the crime of guilty and mentally ill.

Currently in Washington the only option is not guilty by reason of insanity.