LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER TRAINING S.B. 945 (S-1):
SUMMARY OF BILL
REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE
Senate Bill 945 (Substitute S-1 as reported)
Committee: Judiciary and Public Safety
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards Act to do the following:
-- Require the Michigan Commission Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES) to promulgate, by September 1, 2021, rules establishing minimum standards for training in de-escalation techniques, implicit bias training, procedural justice training, and mental health resources and support available for law enforcement officers.
-- Beginning January 1, 2022, require an individual seeking to become a licensed law enforcement officer, tribal law enforcement officer, fire arson investigator, or private college security officer to complete training in de-escalation techniques, implicit bias training, procedural justice training, and mental health resources and support available for law enforcement officers.
-- Require an individual licensed as a law enforcement officer, tribal law enforcement officer, fire arson investigator, or private college security officer on December 31, 2021, who had not completed the training described above to complete training that met the minimum standards described below.
-- Allow an individual seeking to become a law enforcement officer licensed under the Act or a person who was already a licensed law enforcement officer to meet the minimum standards for implicit bias training by completing an implicit bias training course offered by the United States Department of Justice.
-- Require each law enforcement agency in Michigan to adopt, by January 1, 2022, a written policy stating that its officers had an affirmative duty to use de-escalation techniques whenever possible.
-- Require a law enforcement officer licensed under the Act to complete at least 12 hours of continuing education in subjects related to law enforcement on or after January 1, 2022, and before January 1, 2023.
-- Beginning January 1, 2023, require a law enforcement officer licensed under the Act to complete at least 24 hours of continuing education in subjects related to law enforcement.
MCL 28.609 et al. Legislative Analyst: Stephen Jackson
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have a fiscal impact on MCOLES, law enforcement training academies, and local law enforcement agencies to the extent that changes to training standards and continuing education requirements for those licensed under MCOLES would require additional administrative costs in an amount that cannot be determined at this time.
Major responsibility for the bill's provisions would fall under MCOLES, the State agency that sets professional standards for the education, selection, employment, licensing, and license revocation of law enforcement personnel. The agency has a current fiscal year (FY) 2019-20 appropriation of $10,995,500 gross, $250,000 Federal, $9,474,300 restricted, and $1,271,200 General Fund/General Purpose dollars.
The Justice Training Fund, first established under Public Act 302 of 1982, provides an appropriated amount of $6,939,300 in restricted fund support for MCOLES, revenue that comes from fine assessments. These restricted funds are authorized to be spent between two training grant programs; 60% is to go to local agencies on a per-capita basis (of certified officers), and 40% for MCOLES administrative costs and a competitive training grant program for law enforcement agencies. Despite the appropriated amount, the actual restricted funds available for spending in FY 2019-20 may be $4.8 million or less because of declining annual fine revenue collections that have seen a reduction of $1.0 million since FY 2009-2010 and $3.0 million since FY 1999-2000.
Training academies that would be involved in implementing the bill's provisions would include 12 regional police training academies (often college- or community college-based), three agency academies (Michigan State Police, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, and Detroit Metropolitan Police), and five preservice track programs (academic, plus police training). Law enforcement agencies also would have responsibilities under the bill, which currently number 581 traditional and specialized agencies, employing approximately 19,000 certified law enforcement officers.
Date Completed: 6-4-20 Fiscal Analyst: Bruce Baker
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.