Amendment ID: S2800-125-R3

3rd Redraft Amendment 125

Improving Municipal Police Training

Messrs. Cyr and Eldridge move to amend the bill in section 3, by striking out, in line 97, the words “records of training for all officers” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “an electronic database of all trainings, including trainings that are not mandated by law, completed by an officer”; and

in said section 3, in the proposed sixth paragraph of section 116 of chapter 6 of the General Laws, by inserting after the first sentence the following sentence:- “An appointing authority that offers in-service training to an officer shall track the completed trainings for the officer through the committee’s database.”; and

in said section 3, in proposed section 116 of said chapter 6, by adding the following 2 paragraphs:-

“Annually, not later than December 31, the committee shall file a report with the secretary of administration and finance, the state auditor and the senate and house committees on ways and means. The report shall account for the expenditures of the committee during the prior fiscal year and shall include, but not be limited to, the: (i) total funds spent on training for new police officer candidates; (ii) total funds spent on in-service training for existing officers; and (iii) percentage of existing municipal police officers who have completed their required annual in-service training requirements. Upon the request of the secretary of administration and finance, the state auditor, the chair of the senate committee on ways and means or the chair of the house committee on ways and means, the committee shall provide data used to develop the report in a de-identified form.

Not less than once every 3 years, the municipal police training committee shall complete a review of its curriculum, training materials and practices. The review shall be conducted in collaboration with the commission on the status of African Americans, established in section 72 of chapter 3, at least 1 person affiliated with an academic institution in the commonwealth who has experience with, or expertise in, law enforcement practice and training, criminal law, civil rights law, the criminal justice system or social science fields related to race or bias and any other persons or entities the committee deems appropriate. Not more than 30 days after the completion of a review under this section, a summary of the review shall be filed with the clerks of senate and house of representatives, the joint committee on public safety and homeland security and the secretary of public safety and security.”; and

in section 4, in subsection (b) of section 116G of said chapter 6, by striking out proposed clause (iii) and inserting in place thereof the following clause:- “(iii) handling emergencies and complaints, including, but not limited to, those involving victims, witnesses or suspects with mental illness, substance use disorder, trauma history or developmental or intellectual disabilities, which shall include training related to common behavior and actions exhibited by such individuals, strategies law enforcement officers may use for reducing or preventing the risk of harm and strategies that involve the least intrusive means of addressing such incidences and individuals while protecting the safety of the law enforcement officer and other persons; provided, however, that training presenters shall include certified mental health practitioners with expertise in the delivery of direct services to individuals, including victims, witnesses or suspects with mental illness, substance use disorder, trauma history or developmental or intellectual disabilities in emergency situations"; and

by inserting after section 70, the following 2 sections:-

“SECTION 70A. The municipal police training committee shall complete a 10-year strategic plan establishing its goals and objectives, approved by not less than two-thirds of its voting members. The strategic plan shall include, but not be limited to: (i) a description of how the committee plans to prioritize its financial resources; (ii) the scope of training the committee plans to offer new and existing officers; and (iii) an analysis of whether the committee will be able to provide the required, mandated in-service training to existing officers. Not later than July 1, 2021, a report on the strategic plan shall be filed with the clerks of the senate and house of representatives, the senate and house committees on ways and means and the joint committee on public safety and homeland security. The committee shall publish the report on its website.

SECTION 70B. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the first review of the municipal police training committee’s curriculum, training materials and practices, as required by section 116 of chapter 6 of the General Laws, shall be completed not later than January 1, 2023.”.