Local governments could create boards to review police conduct

A municipality could create a civilian review board by ordinance, and a county could create one by resolution for municipalities that choose to join. Municipal boards would cover their municipality. County boards would cover participating municipalities within the county. A county board would cover only municipalities that choose to participate. Members must be residents with relevant training or experience. A board must have at least seven members, and members must complete required training within six months of appointment. Members must complete training within six months of appointment.

A civilian review board could investigate police operations, review officer conduct, recommend policies or discipline, and subpoena witnesses and records. These powers apply to municipal or county civilian review boards established under the bill. A board could start an action only in response to a civilian complaint about excessive or unnecessary force, abuse of authority, discourtesy, or offensive language. A board would need a quorum of trained members to investigate officer conduct or recommend discipline. Recommendations must follow tenure, civil service, and contract rules. An investigation could run alongside an internal police investigation, but must stop when a related criminal prosecution begins. A police agency could withhold evidence or direct the board to stop if it decides a related criminal investigation would seriously harm its discipline process. A board must stop an investigation when a related criminal prosecution begins.

The bill would set aside $600,000 for the Attorney General to fund board-member training and possible payments toward approved alternative courses. The funding would support training for members of municipal and county civilian review boards. The Attorney General could pay only part of the costs of an approved alternative course, under standards the Attorney General must adopt. The Attorney General must develop the main course within 45 days after the act takes effect and offer it as soon as practicable afterward.