Signed by Governor Ralph Northam

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to adopt a conference report that increases employment assessment and review requirements for law enforcement hiring.

Highlights:

• Authorizes a hiring law-enforcement agency or jail to require a candidate for employment, subsequent to a conditional offer of employment, to undergo a psychological examination conducted under the supervision of a licensed psychologist or other licensed mental health professional (Sec. 1).

• Requires the Department of Criminal Justice Services to establish guidelines for such psychological examinations (Sec. 1).

• Requires hiring law-enforcement agencies and jails to request information from all prior employing agencies of an applicant, if the applicant has been employed at any time by another law-enforcement agency or jail, pertaining to the following (Sec. 1):

• Any arrest or prosecution of a former police officer, deputy sheriff, or jail officer, including any expunged arrest or criminal charge, that would otherwise be prohibited from disclosure;

• Any civil suit regarding a former police officer’s deputy sheriff’s, or jail officer’s employment or performance of their duties;

• Any internal investigation related to a former police officer’s deputy sheriff’s, or jail officer’s alleged criminal conduct, use of excessive force, or other official misconduct; and 

• Any job performance that led to the dismissal, demotion, suspension, or transfer.

• Authorizes the hiring agency to request this information subsequent to a conditional offer of employment (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits any police officer, deputy sheriff, or jail officer from being employed in such a position until the requested information is received (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to adopt a conference report that increases employment assessment and review requirements for law enforcement hiring.

Highlights:

• Authorizes a hiring law-enforcement agency or jail to require a candidate for employment, subsequent to a conditional offer of employment, to undergo a psychological examination conducted under the supervision of a licensed psychologist or other licensed mental health professional (Sec. 1).

• Requires the Department of Criminal Justice Services to establish guidelines for such psychological examinations (Sec. 1).

• Requires hiring law-enforcement agencies and jails to request information from all prior employing agencies of an applicant, if the applicant has been employed at any time by another law-enforcement agency or jail, pertaining to the following (Sec. 1):

• Any arrest or prosecution of a former police officer, deputy sheriff, or jail officer, including any expunged arrest or criminal charge, that would otherwise be prohibited from disclosure;

• Any civil suit regarding a former police officer’s deputy sheriff’s, or jail officer’s employment or performance of their duties;

• Any internal investigation related to a former police officer’s deputy sheriff’s, or jail officer’s alleged criminal conduct, use of excessive force, or other official misconduct; and 

• Any job performance that led to the dismissal, demotion, suspension, or transfer.

• Authorizes the hiring agency to request this information subsequent to a conditional offer of employment (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits any police officer, deputy sheriff, or jail officer from being employed in such a position until the requested information is received (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that increases employment assessment and review requirements for law enforcement hiring.

Highlights:

• Requires all police officers, deputy sheriffs, and jail officers to undergo a psychological examination conducted under the supervision of a licensed psychologist or other licensed mental health professional, subsequent to a conditional offer of employment (Sec. 1).

• Requires hiring law-enforcement agencies and jails to request information from all prior employing agencies of an applicant, if the applicant has been employed at any time by another law-enforcement agency or jail, pertaining to the following (Sec. 1):

• Any arrest or prosecution of a former police officer, deputy sheriff, or jail officer, including any expunged arrest or criminal charge, that would otherwise be prohibited from disclosure;

• Any civil suit regarding a former police officer’s deputy sheriff’s, or jail officer’s employment or performance of their duties;

• Any internal investigation related to a former police officer’s deputy sheriff’s, or jail officer’s alleged criminal conduct, use of excessive force, or other official misconduct; and 

• Any job performance that led to the dismissal, demotion, suspension, or transfer.

• Authorizes the hiring agency to request this information subsequent to a conditional offer of employment (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits any police officer, deputy sheriff, or jail officer from being employed in such a position until the requested information is received (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text