(1) The purpose of this section is to establish a process for issuing firearms certificates to residents of Washington who are otherwise qualified retired law enforcement officers under the federal law enforcement officers safety act of 2004 (118 Stat. 865; 18 U.S.C. Sec. 926B and 926C) for the purpose of satisfying the certification requirements contained in that act.

(2) A retired law enforcement officer satisfies the federal certification requirements if he or she possesses a valid firearms qualification certificate that:

(a) Uses the model certificate created under subsection (4) of this section;

(b) Provides that either a law enforcement agency or an individual or entity certified to provide firearms training acknowledges that the bearer has been found qualified or otherwise found to meet the standards established by the criminal justice training commission for firearms qualification for the basic law enforcement training academy in the state; and

(c) Complies with the time restrictions provided under subsection (3) of this section.

(3) The firearms certificate is valid for a period of one year from the date that the law enforcement agency or individual or entity certified to provide firearms training determines that the bearer has been found qualified or otherwise found to meet the standards established by the criminal justice training commission for firearms qualification for the basic law enforcement training academy in the state, and the certificate shall state the date the determination was made.

(4) The Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs shall develop a model certificate that shall serve as the required firearms qualification certificate once the certificate is valid pursuant to subsection (2) of this section. The association shall make the model certificate accessible on its website. The model certificate shall state that the retired law enforcement officer bearing the certificate has been qualified or otherwise found to meet the standards established by the criminal justice training commission for firearms qualification for the basic law enforcement training academy in the state.

(5) The retired law enforcement officer is responsible for paying the costs of the firearms qualification required under subsection (2) of this section.

(6) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to require a local law enforcement agency to complete the certificate.