Signed by Governor Tom Wolf

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes new training requirements for police officers regarding use of force, community and cultural awareness, and implicit bias.

Highlights:

• Requires magisterial district judges to annually complete a continuing education program equivalent to 32 hours in courses approved by the board, including 1 course on the identification and reporting of child abuse and court proceedings involving children, and at least every 6 years, a course on the identification of mental illness and the availability of diversionary options for individuals with mental illness (Sec. 1).

• Requires law enforcement agencies to provide law enforcement officers with a mental health evaluation for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) by a licensed mental health professional upon request of the officer, upon recommendation of a supervising officer, or within 30 days of an incident of the use of lethal force during the course of law enforcement duties (Sec. 2).

• Requires law enforcement officers who experience symptoms of PTSD to be provided treatment under a licensed physician’s care until the physician determines in writing that the officer is able to resume full duties (Sec. 2). 

• Requires law enforcement officers to be assigned to administrative duty if they fail to undergo a mental health evaluation for PTSD or if a licensed mental health professional determines they are experiencing symptoms of PTSD and are not yet able to resume full duties (Sec. 2).  

• Requires the commission to provide trainings for police officers, including, but not limited to (Sec. 3):

• Recognition of mental illness, intellectual disabilities, and autism;

• Techniques to interact with and de-escalate individuals engaging in behavior indicative of mental illness, intellectual disability, or autism;

• Instruction on services available to individuals with mental illness, intellectual disabilities, or autism;

• Instruction on interacting with individuals of diverse racial, ethnic, and economic backgrounds;

• Recognition of child abuse;

• Instruction on reporting suspected child abuse;

• Instruction on trauma informed care;

• Recognition of PTSD and techniques to interact with individuals with PTSD, including intervening with or on behalf of other police officers exhibiting PTSD;

• Annual in-service training on the use of force, including deadly force, de-escalation, and harm reduction techniques; and

• Biennial in-service training on community and cultural awareness, implicit bias, procedural justice, and reconciliation techniques. 

• Requires police officers to attend a minimum number of hours of in-service training as provided for by regulation, to maintain certification by the commission (Sec. 3).

Full Bill Text