HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1591        FILED ON: 1/16/2019

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3613

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Frank A. Moran

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act regarding police officer interactions with students.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1591        FILED ON: 1/16/2019

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3613

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court
(2019-2020)

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An Act regarding police officer interactions with students.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Chapter 6 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2016 official edition is hereby amended by inserting after section 116F the following section: –

Section 116G. (a) The municipal police training committee shall provide instruction for the proper interaction of police officers with school age youth during traffic stops and other in-person encounters.

(b) The instruction shall include information regarding: (i)  the role of law enforcement and the duties and responsibilities of police officers; (ii) a person's rights concerning interactions with police officers; (iii)  proper behavior for civilians and police officers during interactions; (iv)  laws regarding questioning and detention by police officers, including any law requiring a person to present proof of identity to a police officer, and the consequences for a person's or officer's failure to comply with those laws; and (iv)  how and where to file a complaint against or a compliment on behalf of a police officer.

(c) In developing the training program under this section, the committee shall consult with the board of elementary and secondary education regarding the standards and instruction developed under section 1D of chapter 69 and section 13D of chapter 71 and may consult with any interested party, including a volunteer work group convened for the purpose of making recommendations regarding the training program.

(d)  Before finalizing a training program under this section, the committee shall provide a reasonable period for public comment.

(e) The instruction shall be provided in the student officers’ course of study, in-service officers training, courses of supervisory training in dispatcher in communication officer training.

SECTION 2. The second paragraph of section 1D of chapter 69 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the eighth sentence the following sentence:- The board shall adopt standards to include the instruction developed under section 13D of chapter 71 in 1 or more courses in the required curriculum for students in grade levels 9 through 12.

SECTION 3. Section 13D of chapter 71 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph:-

A driver education course shall include curriculum and instructional modules, on proper interaction with peace officers during traffic stops and other in-person encounters. The instruction shall include information regarding: (i) the role of law enforcement and the duties and responsibilities of peace officers;(ii) a person's rights concerning interactions with peace officers; (iii) proper behavior for civilians and peace officers during interactions; (iv) laws regarding questioning and detention by peace officers, including any law requiring a person to present proof of identity to a peace officer, and the consequences for a person's or officer's failure to comply with those laws; and (v) how and where to file a complaint against or a compliment on behalf of a peace officer. In developing the instruction under this paragraph, the school committee may consult with any interested party, including a volunteer work group convened for the purpose of making recommendations regarding the instruction. Before finalizing any instruction under this paragraph, the school committee shall provide a reasonable period for public comment. The school committee may tailor the instruction developed under this paragraph as appropriate for the school district’s community. In tailoring the instruction, the school district shall solicit input from local law enforcement agencies, driver training schools, and the community.

SECTION 4. Section 8 of chapter 90 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out the word “including”, in line 51, and inserting in place thereof the following words:- which shall include information regarding: (i) the role of law enforcement and the duties and responsibilities of peace officers;(ii) a person's rights concerning interactions with peace officers; (iii) proper behavior for civilians and peace officers during interactions; (iv) laws regarding questioning and detention by peace officers, including any law requiring a person to present proof of identity to a peace officer and the consequences for a person's or officer's failure to comply with those laws; and (v) how and where to file a complaint against or a compliment on behalf of a peace officer.