2021 -- H 5393

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LC000871

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT – COMMISSION ON

STANDARDS AND TRAINING

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Cortvriend, Tanzi, Noret, Hawkins, Bennett, Hull,
Cassar, Fogarty, Craven, and Casey

     Date Introduced: February 05, 2021

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Chapter 42-28.2 of the General Laws entitled "Police Officers - Commission

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on Standards and Training" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following sections:

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     42-28.2-8.4. Training on calls involving individuals with cognitive or communication-

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related disabilities - Educational requirements.

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     (a) The commission on standards and training shall prepare and publish mandatory training

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standards to provide instruction for police officers in identifying, responding to, handling,

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investigating and reporting all incidents involving victims, witnesses, or suspects with cognitive or

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communication-related disabilities and shall develop guidelines for law enforcement responses to

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incidents involving such persons. Instruction and guidelines shall include:

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     (1) Identifying and recognizing cognitive and communication-related disabilities for the

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benefit of victims, witnesses and suspects, the availability of community resources for persons

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experiencing emergencies, and the protection of persons with cognitive and communication-related

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disabilities and for law enforcement officers engaging such persons; and

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     (2) Providing information to law enforcement officers to recognize the signs and symptoms

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of common cognitive and communication-related disabilities, de-escalating crisis situations safely,

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and initiating timely referrals to resources available in the community.

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     (b) The commission shall include training in all curricula for recruits and in-service

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trainees, in all police academies operating or certified by the commission.

 

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     (c) All law enforcement trainees shall participate in the course of basic training for law

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enforcement officers, established in this section, as part of their required certification process.

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     (d) Training presenters shall include:

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     (1) Intellectual/developmental disabilities and communication disabilities practitioners

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with expertise in the delivery of direct services to individuals with cognitive disabilities or

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communication-related disabilities; and

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     (2) Individuals with cognitive disabilities or communication-related disabilities.

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     (e) The course of instruction, the learning and performance objectives, the standards for

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training, and the guidelines shall be developed by the municipal police training committee in

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consultation with practitioners and advocates having an interest and expertise in providing services

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and supports to individuals with cognitive disabilities or communication-related disabilities in

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community-based settings.

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     (f) Training presentations may utilize the staff of community-based providers of services

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and supports for individuals with cognitive disabilities and communication-related disabilities, as

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well as videos or webinars developed by other federal, state or municipal law enforcement agencies.

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     (g) As used in this section, the following words and terms shall have the following

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meanings:

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     (1) “Police detective” means any member of a municipal police department or a department

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in the state that is assigned to conduct investigations of complaints.

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     (2) The terms “cognitive disabilities” and “communication-related disabilities” mean a

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severe, chronic disability of a person which:

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     (i) Is attributable to a mental or physical impairment;

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     (ii) Is likely to continue indefinitely; or

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     (iii) Results in substantial functional limitations in receptive or expressive language.

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     42-28.2-8.5. Training in investigating and handling complaints involving victims,

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witnesses or suspects with cognitive or communication-related disabilities - Educational

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requirements.

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     (a) The commission on standards and training shall prepare and publish mandatory training

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standards to provide instruction for police detectives in investigating and handling complaints

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involving victims, witnesses or suspects with cognitive or communication-related disabilities and

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shall develop guidelines for detectives responding to incidents involving such persons.

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     (b) The commission on standards and training shall include and require training in the

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curricula described in subsection (a) of this section or all newly commissioned police detectives

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and in-service trainees, in all police academies operated or certified by the commission.

 

LC000871 - Page 2 of 4

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     (c) Training presenters shall include:

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     (1) Intellectual/developmental disabilities and communication disabilities practitioners

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with expertise in the delivery of direct services to individuals with cognitive disabilities or

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communication-related disabilities; and

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     (2) Individuals with cognitive disabilities or communication-related disabilities.

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     (d) The course of instruction, the learning and performance objectives, the standards for

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training, and the guidelines shall be developed by the municipal police training committee in

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consultation with practitioners and advocates having an interest and expertise in providing services

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and supports to individuals with cognitive disabilities or communication-related disabilities in

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community-based settings.

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     (e) Training presentations may utilize the staff of community-based providers of services

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and supports for individuals with cognitive disabilities and communication-related disabilities, as

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well as videos or webinars developed by other federal, state or municipal law enforcement agencies.

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     (f) As used in this section, the following words and terms shall have the following

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meanings:

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     (1) “Police detective” means any member of a municipal police department or a department

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in the state that is assigned to conduct investigations of complaints.

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     (2) The terms “cognitive disabilities” and “communication-related disabilities” mean, a

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severe, chronic disability of a person which:

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     (i) Is attributable to a mental or physical impairment;

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     (ii) Is likely to continue indefinitely; or

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     (iii) Results in substantial functional limitations in receptive or expressive language.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT – COMMISSION ON

STANDARDS AND TRAINING

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     This act would require the police officers commission on standards and training to provide

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training and instructions for police officers and trainees in order to more accurately identify

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complaints involving persons with cognitive or communication-related disabilities and to develop

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law enforcement responses to such emergencies, including training for police investigating such

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complaints.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC000871

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