Police hiring agencies would report suspected crimes and officer misconduct

Law enforcement hiring agencies would report suspected applicant crimes to law enforcement with authority where the crime allegedly happened. This would cover applicants for state or local law enforcement jobs, whether or not they are hired. Information found during hiring must cause a reasonable person to believe the applicant committed a crime. If enacted, the requirement would take effect after publication in the statute book.

Hiring agencies would report suspected crimes or conduct that would warrant penalties affecting an officer’s license or certification. This would cover applicants currently employed as officers or currently licensed or certified as officers in any jurisdiction, whether or not they are hired. Information found during hiring must cause a reasonable person to believe the applicant committed a crime or engaged in conduct that would warrant a license or certification penalty. The listed recipients are the licensing or certification authority, the law enforcement employer when the conduct happened, or the current law enforcement employer. The wording does not clearly require notifying all three. If enacted, the requirement would take effect after publication in the statute book.

Required applicant waivers would release agency employees and contractors who conduct background checks from liability for using and sharing applicant files. The waiver would apply to interviewed applicants who previously applied for or held law enforcement jobs with another covered agency. Covered applicants who refuse the waiver would not be considered for employment. Employees and contractors would also be protected from liability for following this section in good faith or participating in an official interview with an investigator about the applicant. If enacted, these protections would take effect after publication in the statute book.