Bill > S0153

Introduced Session

This bill proposes to create municipal and regional civilian oversight bodies to receive, investigate, and address complaints against a law enforcement agency or officer within their jurisdiction. A board’s investigation is in addition to the investigations that may be conducted by a law enforcement agency and the Vermont Criminal Justice Council. Each board is empowered to hire or contract with staff to assist with its functions. Each board is authorized to draft a public report after a substantiated investigation, and its recommendations can be given deference by the Vermont Criminal Justice Council in its adjudication of unprofessional conduct complaints against law enforcement officers. Each board is also authorized to monitor law enforcement trends, make law enforcement training recommendations to the Vermont Criminal Justice Council, and participate in the collective bargaining process of the law enforcement agency within its jurisdiction. The Vermont Criminal Justice Council is also mandated to administer a grant program to assist municipalities and regions in S.153 implementing their boards, which is supported by a $500,000.00 appropriation to the Council.

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Tanya Vyhovsky (D)*,  Becca White (D), 

Read 1st time & referred to Committee on Government Operations (on 05/09/2023)

Official Document