Chapter 272
2023 -- S 0401
Enacted 06/22/2023

A N   A C T
RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- POLICE OFFICERS--COMMISSION ON STANDARDS AND TRAINING

Introduced By: Senators DiMario, Euer, Murray, Tikoian, Miller, Lawson, DiPalma, F. Lombardi, Quezada, and Valverde

Date Introduced: February 16, 2023

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
     SECTION 1. Chapter 42-28.2 of the General Laws entitled "Police Officers - Commission
on Standards and Training" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following sections:
     42-28.2-8.4. Training on calls involving individuals with cognitive or communication-
related disabilities -- Educational requirements.
     (a) The commission on standards and training shall prepare and publish mandatory training
standards to provide instruction for police officers in identifying, responding to, handling,
investigating, and reporting all incidents involving victims, witnesses, or suspects with cognitive
or communication-related disabilities and shall develop guidelines for law enforcement responses
to incidents involving such persons. Instruction and guidelines shall include:
     (1) Identifying and recognizing cognitive and communication-related disabilities for the
benefit of victims, witnesses, and suspects,; the availability of community resources for persons
experiencing emergencies,; and the protection of persons with cognitive and communication-
related disabilities and for law enforcement officers engaging such persons; and
     (2) Providing information to law enforcement officers to recognize the signs and symptoms
of common cognitive and communication-related disabilities,; de-escalating crisis situations
safely,; and initiating timely referrals to resources available in the community.
     (b) The commission shall include training in all curricula for recruits and in-service
trainees, in all police academies operating or certified by the commission.
     (c) All law enforcement trainees shall participate in the course of basic training for law
enforcement officers, established in this section, as part of their required certification process.
     (d) Training presenters shall include:
     (1) Intellectual/developmental disabilities and communication disabilities practitioners
with expertise in the delivery of direct services to individuals with cognitive disabilities or
communication-related disabilities; and
     (2) Individuals with cognitive disabilities or communication-related disabilities.
     (e) The course of instruction,; the learning and performance objectives,; the standards for
training,; and the guidelines shall be developed by the municipal police training committee in
consultation with practitioners and advocates having an interest and expertise in providing services
and supports to individuals with cognitive disabilities or communication-related disabilities in
community-based settings.
     (f) Training presentations may utilize the staff of community-based providers of services
and supports for individuals with cognitive disabilities and communication-related disabilities, as
well as videos or webinars developed by other federal, state, or municipal law enforcement
agencies.
     (g) As used in this section, the following words and terms shall have the following
meanings:
     (1) “Police detective” means any member of a municipal police department or a department
in the state that is assigned to conduct investigations of complaints.
     (2) The terms “cognitive disabilities” and “communication-related disabilities” mean a
severe, chronic disability of a person which that:
     (i) Is attributable to a mental or physical impairment;
     (ii) Is likely to continue indefinitely; or
     (iii) Results in substantial functional limitations in receptive or expressive language.
     42-28.2-8.5. Training in investigating and handling complaints involving victims,
witnesses or suspects with cognitive or communication-related disabilities -- Educational
requirements.
     (a) The commission on standards and training shall prepare and publish mandatory training
standards to provide instruction for police detectives in investigating and handling complaints
involving victims, witnesses, or suspects with cognitive or communication-related disabilities and
shall develop guidelines for detectives responding to incidents involving such persons.
     (b) The commission on standards and training shall include and require training in the
curricula described in subsection (a) of this section for all newly commissioned police detectives
and in-service trainees, in all police academies operated or certified by the commission.
     (c) Training presenters shall include:
     (1) Intellectual/developmental disabilities and communication disabilities practitioners
with expertise in the delivery of direct services to individuals with cognitive disabilities or
communication-related disabilities; and
     (2) Individuals with cognitive disabilities or communication-related disabilities.
     (d) The course of instruction, the learning and performance objectives, the standards for
training, and the guidelines shall be developed by the municipal police training committee in
consultation with practitioners and advocates having an interest and expertise in providing services
and supports to individuals with cognitive disabilities or communication-related disabilities in
community-based settings.
     (e) Training presentations may utilize the staff of community-based providers of services
and supports for individuals with cognitive disabilities and communication-related disabilities, as
well as videos or webinars developed by other federal, state, or municipal law enforcement
agencies.
     (f) As used in this section, the following words and terms shall have the following
meanings:
     (1) “Police detective” means any member of a municipal police department or a department
in the state that is assigned to conduct investigations of complaints.
     (2) The terms “cognitive disabilities” and “communication-related disabilities” mean, a
severe, chronic disability of a person which that:
     (i) Is attributable to a mental or physical impairment;
     (ii) Is likely to continue indefinitely; or
     (iii) Results in substantial functional limitations in receptive or expressive language.
     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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LC001070
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