SB 547

Abstract

Law-enforcement training; individuals with autism spectrum disorder. Requires the Department of Criminal Justice Services to establish compulsory minimum and in-service training standards for law-enforcement officers on communicating with individuals with an intellectual disability or a developmental disability, such as autism spectrum disorder, which shall include (i) an overview and behavioral recognition of autism spectrum disorder, (ii) best practices for crisis prevention and de-escalation techniques, (iii) an objective review of any relevant tools and technology available to assist in communication, and (iv) education on law-enforcement agency and community resources for the autism community on future crisis prevention. The bill requires that such training standards be established in consultation with at least one individual with autism spectrum disorder, one family member of an individual with autism spectrum disorder, one specialist who works with individuals with autism spectrum disorder, one representative from the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, and one representative from a state or local law-enforcement agency. The bill requires the Department to establish such training standards by January 1, 2027, and requires any person employed as a law-enforcement officer prior to July 1, 2024, to complete the compulsory in-service training by July 1, 2028. This bill is identical to HB 1246.

Law-enforcement training; individuals with autismspectrum disorder. Requires the Department of Criminal JusticeServices to establish compulsory minimum and in-service trainingstandards for law-enforcement officers on communicating with individualswith autism spectrum disorder, which shall include (i) an overviewand behavioral recognition of autism spectrum disorder, (ii) bestpractices for crisis prevention and de-escalation techniques, (iii)an objective review of any relevant tools and technology availableto assist in communication, and (iv) education on law-enforcementagency and community resources for the autism community on futurecrisis prevention. The bill requires that such training standardsbe established in consultation with at least one individual withautism spectrum disorder, one family member of an individual withautism spectrum disorder, one specialist who works with individualswith autism spectrum disorder, and one representative from a state or local law-enforcement agency. The bill requires the Departmentto establish such training standards by January 1, 2025, and requiresany person employed as a law-enforcement officer prior to July 1,2024, to complete the compulsory in-service training by July 1, 2025.