Police Training and Independent Review Act of 2021

Bill: 117-hr-1337
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9]
Introduced: 2021-02-25
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation

Disability and health-based discrimination

Employment and training programs

Government studies and investigations

Law enforcement administration and funding

Law enforcement officers

Mental health

Racial and ethnic relations

State and local government operations
Latest action: action_date: 2021-04-28
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-02-25
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Police Training and Independent Review Act of 2021</b></p> <p>This bill authorizes the Department of Justice to award grants to states that (1) require law enforcement officers to be trained on diversity and sensitivity, and (2) require an independent prosecutor to be appointed to investigate and prosecute an alleged offense involving the use of deadly force by a law enforcement officer that results in a death or injury.</p>

tv_txt: I 117th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1337 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 25, 2021 Mr. Cohen introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To provide for grants for States that require sensitivity training for law enforcement officers of that State and to incentivize States to enact laws requiring the independent investigation and prosecution of the use of deadly force by law enforcement officers, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Police Training and Independent Review Act of 2021 . 2. Grants for training and sensitivity and the use of independent prosecutors Title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: NN Grants for training and independent prosecution 3041. In general The Attorney General may make a grant to a State each fiscal year for purposes of carrying out the requirements of section 3042(a) and 3043. The term of such grant shall be 1 year. 3042. Training on diversity and sensitivity for law enforcement (a) Training requirement The requirements of this subsection are as follows: (1) A State shall require that all individuals enrolled in an academy of a law enforcement agency of the State and all law enforcement officers of the State fulfill a training session on sensitivity each fiscal year, including training on ethnic and racial bias, cultural diversity, and police interaction with the disabled, mentally ill, and new immigrants. In the case of individuals attending an academy, such training session shall be for 8 hours, and in the case of all other law enforcement officers, the training session shall be for 4 hours. (2) A State shall certify to the Attorney General of the United States that such training sessions have been completed. (b) Compliance and ineligibility (1) Compliance date The period specified under this paragraph is the period beginning 120 days after the date of enactment of this part, to comply with subsection (a), except that— (A) the Attorney General may grant an additional 120 days to a State that is making good faith efforts to comply with such subsection; and (B) the Attorney General shall waive the requirements of subsection (a) if compliance with such subsection by a State would be unconstitutional under the constitution of such State. (2) Ineligibility A State that is not in compliance with the requirements of subsection (a) during a fiscal year is not eligible for a grant under this part. 3043. Independent Review of law enforcement use of deadly force In the case of a State that fails by the end of a fiscal year to enact or have in effect an independent prosecution of law enforcement law, that State is not eligible for a grant under this part. 3044. Definitions In this part: (1) The term deadly force means that force which a reasonable person would consider likely to cause death or serious bodily harm. (2) The term independent prosecution of law enforcement law means a statute requiring the appointment of an independent prosecutor to conduct any criminal investigation and prosecution in which— (A) one or more of the possible defendants is a law enforcement officer; (B) one or more of the alleged offenses involves the law enforcement officer’s use of deadly force in the course of carrying out that officer’s duty; and (C) the law enforcement officer’s use of deadly force resulted in a death or injury. (3) The term independent prosecutor means, with respect to a criminal investigation or prosecution, a prosecutor who— (A) does not live or work in the same county as the county in which the alleged crime was committed; and (B) would not be involved in the prosecution in the ordinary course of that prosecutor’s duties. .