Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with the governor's recommendations and pass a bill that amends existing law enforcement officer training and qualifications.

Highlights:

• Amends the definition of “racially biased policing and bias-based profiling” to include training in de-escalation techniques, and in the lawful use of force only when necessary to protect the law-enforcement officer or another individual, as well as recognizing implicit biases in interacting with individuals who have the following, including (Sec. 1).

• Mental illness;

• Substance use disorder; or

• Developmental or cognitive disabilities.

• Establishes guidelines and standards for psychological examinations as well as compulsory in-service training standards for law-enforcement in the following subjects, including (Sec. 1):

• Relevant state and federal laws;

• Awareness of cultural diversity and the potential for bias-based profiling;

• De-escalation techniques;

• Working with individuals with disabilities, mental health needs, or substance use disorders; and

• The lawful use of force when necessary to protect the law-enforcement officer or another individual.

• Requires law-enforcement agencies develop uniform curriculum and lesson plans for compulsory minimum entry-level, in-service, and advanced training standards to be employed by criminal justice training academies approved by the Department of Justice when conducting training (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes the department to conduct annual evaluations at each criminal justice training academy to determine whether the academies compliance with the uniform curriculum and lesson plans was met and specifies that if compliance is not met then the department shall provide assistance to ensure future compliance and may take whatever enforcement action deemed appropriate, including academy revocation (Sec. 1). 

• Specifies that any approved criminal justice training academy to petition the department for a waiver exempting compliance upon showing that an alternative curriculum and lesson plans requirement meets and exceeds the department’s requirements (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes a hiring law-enforcement agency or jail to require a candidate for employment undergo a psychological examination, subsequent to a conditions offer of employment, conducted under the supervision of a licensed psychiatrist or licensed clinical psychologist (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with the governor's recommendations and pass a bill that amends existing law enforcement officer training and qualifications.

Highlights:

• Amends the definition of “racially biased policing and bias-based profiling” to include training in de-escalation techniques, and in the lawful use of force only when necessary to protect the law-enforcement officer or another individual, as well as recognizing implicit biases in interacting with individuals who have the following, including (Sec. 1).

• Mental illness;

• Substance use disorder; or

• Developmental or cognitive disabilities.

• Establishes guidelines and standards for psychological examinations as well as compulsory in-service training standards for law-enforcement in the following subjects, including (Sec. 1):

• Relevant state and federal laws;

• Awareness of cultural diversity and the potential for bias-based profiling;

• De-escalation techniques;

• Working with individuals with disabilities, mental health needs, or substance use disorders; and

• The lawful use of force when necessary to protect the law-enforcement officer or another individual.

• Requires law-enforcement agencies develop uniform curriculum and lesson plans for compulsory minimum entry-level, in-service, and advanced training standards to be employed by criminal justice training academies approved by the Department of Justice when conducting training (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes the department to conduct annual evaluations at each criminal justice training academy to determine whether the academies compliance with the uniform curriculum and lesson plans was met and specifies that if compliance is not met then the department shall provide assistance to ensure future compliance and may take whatever enforcement action deemed appropriate, including academy revocation (Sec. 1). 

• Specifies that any approved criminal justice training academy to petition the department for a waiver exempting compliance upon showing that an alternative curriculum and lesson plans requirement meets and exceeds the department’s requirements (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes a hiring law-enforcement agency or jail to require a candidate for employment undergo a psychological examination, subsequent to a conditions offer of employment, conducted under the supervision of a licensed psychiatrist or licensed clinical psychologist (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text

Signed by Governor Ralph Northam