Police hiring agencies would report misconduct records and face funding limits

A law enforcement agency that hires a covered applicant would file a hiring report explaining why it made the hire. The report would cover applicants whose separation records include listed misconduct, a finding of dishonesty by any authority, or a related criminal conviction. The report would address each documented disciplinary action in the listed categories. The report would use a commission form and be added to the commission's electronic database. The report would be subject to Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law. The provision would apply when a covered law enforcement agency hires an applicant.

A hiring agency, municipality or other covered entity would issue public notice before formally hiring a covered peace officer. The notice would cover officers with substantiated allegations, substantiated complaints, completed or ongoing investigations, or related criminal charges involving listed misconduct. The listed conduct includes excessive force, harassment, theft, discrimination, sexual abuse, sexual misconduct, domestic violence, false confessions, false reports and dishonesty findings. The public notice would be issued 14 business days before the entity takes formal action to hire the officer.

Noncompliant law enforcement agencies and other covered hiring entities would lose access to specified state funding, grants, incentives or tax benefits. The consequences would apply to agencies that fail to report required separation records or to hiring entities that fail to follow the chapter's requirements. An agency seeking state money for violence intervention, victim services or community engagement would first need commission approval after noncompliance. Government entities with budget authority over covered law enforcement or other agencies could become ineligible for state money or tax incentives. The consequences would apply after an agency or hiring entity fails to meet the stated reporting or hiring requirements.