Signed by Governor Ralph Northam

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to adopt a conference report that establishes and amends various provisions relating to law enforcement.

Highlights:

• Prohibits all state law enforcement agencies from acquiring, purchasing, or otherwise accepting on any terms from the US Department of Defense the following, including (Ch. 55.4, Sec. 2.2):

• Weaponized unmanned aerial vehicles;

• Weaponized track-armored vehicles;

• Aircrafts that are configured for combat;

• Armored multi-wheeled vehicles;

• Firearms and ammunition of .50 caliber or higher; and

• Grenade launchers and bayonets.

• Requires the Department of Criminal Justice Services to adopt a statewide curriculum on professional standards of conduct for all certified law enforcement officers and certified jail officers to provide appropriate due process procedure training in criminal justice training academies (Ch. 55.4, Sec. 9.1)

• Requires the Department of Criminal Justice Services to establish training standards regarding sensitivity to racism and the potential for racially biased policing (Ch. 55.4, Sec. 9.1)

• Requires departments to collect data pertaining to all of the following, including (Ch. 55.4, Sec. 15.2):

• All investigatory motor vehicle stops;

• All stop-and-frisks of a person under reasonable suspicion; and

• All other investigatory detentions that do not result in an arrest or the issuance of a summons.

• Requires a search warrant be executed during daylight hours unless a judge or magistrate authorizes the execution of the search warrant at a different time (Ch. 55.4, Sec. 19.).

• Requires law enforcement to, prior to the execution of a search warrant, provide audible notice and purpose sufficient enough to be heard by any occupants of said address prior to entry (Ch. 55.4, Sec. 19.2).

• Prohibits a law enforcement officer from using deadly force or a neck restraint against another person unless the officer reasonably believes that deadly force is immediately necessary to protect the officer or another individual from the threat of serious bodily injury or death (Ch. 7.1, Sec. 19.2).

• Defines “deadly force” as any force that is likely or intended to cause serious bodily injury or death (Ch. 7.1, Sec. 19.2).

• Defines “neck restraint” as the use of any body part or object to attempt to control or disable a person by applying pressure against the neck, including the trachea or carotid artery, with the purpose, intent, or effect of controlling or restricting the individual’s movement or restricting the individual’s blood flow (Ch. 7.1, Sec. 19.2).

• Prohibits a law enforcement officer from discharging a firearm into or at a moving vehicle unless the firearm discharge is immediately necessary to protect the officer or another individual (Ch. 7.1, Sec. 19.2).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to adopt a conference report that establishes and amends various provisions relating to law enforcement.

Highlights:

• Prohibits all state law enforcement agencies from acquiring, purchasing, or otherwise accepting on any terms from the US Department of Defense the following, including (Ch. 55.4, Sec. 2.2):

• Weaponized unmanned aerial vehicles;

• Weaponized track-armored vehicles;

• Aircrafts that are configured for combat;

• Armored multi-wheeled vehicles;

• Firearms and ammunition of .50 caliber or higher; and

• Grenade launchers and bayonets.

• Requires the Department of Criminal Justice Services to adopt a statewide curriculum on professional standards of conduct for all certified law enforcement officers and certified jail officers to provide appropriate due process procedure training in criminal justice training academies (Ch. 55.4, Sec. 9.1)

• Requires the Department of Criminal Justice Services to establish training standards regarding sensitivity to racism and the potential for racially biased policing (Ch. 55.4, Sec. 9.1)

• Requires departments to collect data pertaining to all of the following, including (Ch. 55.4, Sec. 15.2):

• All investigatory motor vehicle stops;

• All stop-and-frisks of a person under reasonable suspicion; and

• All other investigatory detentions that do not result in an arrest or the issuance of a summons.

• Requires a search warrant be executed during daylight hours unless a judge or magistrate authorizes the execution of the search warrant at a different time (Ch. 55.4, Sec. 19.).

• Requires law enforcement to, prior to the execution of a search warrant, provide audible notice and purpose sufficient enough to be heard by any occupants of said address prior to entry (Ch. 55.4, Sec. 19.2).

• Prohibits a law enforcement officer from using deadly force or a neck restraint against another person unless the officer reasonably believes that deadly force is immediately necessary to protect the officer or another individual from the threat of serious bodily injury or death (Ch. 7.1, Sec. 19.2).

• Defines “deadly force” as any force that is likely or intended to cause serious bodily injury or death (Ch. 7.1, Sec. 19.2).

• Defines “neck restraint” as the use of any body part or object to attempt to control or disable a person by applying pressure against the neck, including the trachea or carotid artery, with the purpose, intent, or effect of controlling or restricting the individual’s movement or restricting the individual’s blood flow (Ch. 7.1, Sec. 19.2).

• Prohibits a law enforcement officer from discharging a firearm into or at a moving vehicle unless the firearm discharge is immediately necessary to protect the officer or another individual (Ch. 7.1, Sec. 19.2).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes and amends various provisions relating to law enforcement.

Highlights:

• Prohibits all state law enforcement agencies from acquiring, purchasing, or otherwise accepting on any terms from the US Department of Defense, the following, including (Ch. 55.4, Sec. 2.2):

• Tracked armored vehicles;

• Weaponized aircraft vessels;

• Firearms and ammunition of .50 caliber or higher; and

• Grenade launchers and bayonets.

• Requires the Department of Criminal Justice Services to adopt a statewide curriculum on professional standards of conduct for all certified law enforcement officers and certified jail officers to provide appropriate due process procedure training in criminal justice training academies (Ch. 55.4, Sec. 9.1)

• Authorizes the state to withhold funds and declare a police department ineligible for funding for the succeeding fiscal year if a local law enforcement agency refuses to report the required data on biases related to arrest records and the legislatures believe the department to have violated individual rights (Ch. 55.4, Sec. 9.1).

• Requires departments to collect data pertaining to all of the following, including (Ch. 55.4, Sec. 15.2):

• All investigatory motor vehicle stops;

• All stop-and-frisks of a person under reasonable suspicion; and

• All other investigatory detentions that do not result in an arrest or the issuance of a summons.

• Requires a search warrant be executed during daylight hours unless a judge or magistrate authorizes the execution of the search warrant at a different time (Ch. 55.4, Sec. 19.2).

• Requires law enforcement to, prior to the execution of a search warrant, provide audible notice and purpose sufficient enough to be heard by any occupants of said address prior to entry (Ch. 55.4, Sec. 19.2).

• Prohibits a law enforcement officer from using deadly force or a neck restraint against another person unless the officer reasonably believes that deadly force is immediately necessary to protect the officer or another individual from the threat of serious bodily injury or death (Ch. 7.1, Sec. 19.2).

• Defines “deadly force” as any force that is likely or intended to cause serious bodily injury or death (Ch. 7.1, Sec. 19.2).

• Defines “neck restraint” as the use of any body part or object to attempt to control or disable a person by applying pressure against the neck, including the trachea or carotid artery, with the purpose, intent, or effect of controlling or restricting the individual’s movement or restricting the individual’s blood flow (Ch. 7.1, Sec. 19.2).

• Prohibits a law enforcement officer from discharging a firearm into or at a moving vehicle unless the firearm discharge is immediately necessary to protect the officer or another individual (Ch. 7.1, Sec. 19.2).

Full Bill Text