Signed by Governor John Bel Edwards

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with Senate amendments and pass a bill that amends the Police Officer's Bill of Rights.

Highlights:

• Requires the following minimum standards to apply whenever a police employee or law enforcement officer is under investigation (Sec. 1.B):

• The police employee or law enforcement officer will be granted up to 14 days to secure representation, during which time all questioning will be suspended;

• If a police employee or law enforcement officer is involved in an officer-involved incident, the police employee or law enforcement officer will be granted up to 14 days to secure representation, during which time all questioning will be suspended; and

• If the police employee or law enforcement officer is confined to a medical facility due to injury or illness related to the officer-involved incident, or otherwise incapacitated, the police employee or law enforcement officer will be granted up to 30 days to secure representation.

• Establishes each investigation of a police employee or law enforcement officer which is conducted under the provisions of this law will be completed within 75 days, inclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays (Sec. 1-7).

• Specifies if the board finds that the municipal police department has shown good cause for the granting of an extension of time within which to complete the investigation, the board will grant an extension of up to 60 days. Nothing will be construed to prohibit the police employee or law enforcement officer under investigation and the appointing authority from entering into a written agreement extending the investigation for up to an additional 60 days (Sec. 1-7).

• Authorizes a notice to be given in writing or electronically. The notice is considered received by the police employee or law enforcement officer under investigation on the date sent, provided it is sent to the department email address in the personnel file of the police employee or law enforcement officer. The notice will be considered received by the police employee or law enforcement officer under investigation on the date received, provided it is sent to the home address in the personnel file of the police employee or the law enforcement officer (Sec. 1-7).

• Requires sustained complaints against the law enforcement officer to remain in the officer's personnel file for at least 10 years, but only after the officer has exhausted all administrative appeals to which he is entitled (Sec. 1.D).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that amends the Police Officer's Bill of Rights.

Highlights:

• Requires the following minimum standards to apply whenever a police employee or law enforcement officer is under investigation (Sec. 1.B):

• The police employee or law enforcement officer will be granted up to 14 days to secure representation, during which time all questioning will be suspended;

• If a police employee or law enforcement officer is involved in an officer-involved incident, the police employee or law enforcement officer will be granted up to 14 days to secure representation, during which time all questioning will be suspended; and

• If the police employee or law enforcement officer is confined to a medical facility due to injury or illness related to the officer-involved incident, or otherwise incapacitated, the police employee or law enforcement officer will be granted up to 30 days to secure representation.

• Establishes each investigation of a police employee or law enforcement officer which is conducted under the provisions of this law will be completed within 75 days, inclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays (Sec. 1-7).

• Specifies if the board finds that the municipal police department has shown good cause for the granting of an extension of time within which to complete the investigation, the board will grant an extension of up to 60 days. Nothing will be construed to prohibit the police employee or law enforcement officer under investigation and the appointing authority from entering into a written agreement extending the investigation for up to an additional 60 days (Sec. 1-7).

• Authorizes a notice to be given in writing or electronically. The notice is considered received by the police employee or law enforcement officer under investigation on the date sent, provided it is sent to the department email address in the personnel file of the police employee or law enforcement officer. The notice will be considered received by the police employee or law enforcement officer under investigation on the date received, provided it is sent to the home address in the personnel file of the police employee or the law enforcement officer (Sec. 1-7).

• Requires sustained complaints against the law enforcement officer to remain in the officer's personnel file for at least 10 years, but only after the officer has exhausted all administrative appeals to which he is entitled (Sec. 1.D).

Full Bill Text