Bill > H2637

This bill aims to enhance police transparency and accountability through multiple provisions across various state agencies. It establishes a permanent Demographic Justice Commission (DJC) task force to investigate and audit state departments' demographic composition, requiring agencies to have staff proportional to the state's population demographics. The bill mandates that law enforcement training academies and police departments ensure diverse representation and develop training based on current criminal statistics. It introduces new training requirements including implicit bias training and emphasizing non-lethal force techniques. The legislation requires extensive public reporting on law enforcement activities, including detailed data on traffic stops, hiring practices, officer discipline, and community interactions. Law enforcement officers would be required to identify themselves during interactions and provide business cards, and a new provision allows civil action against individuals who summon law enforcement without reasonable cause based on discriminatory perceptions. Additional transparency measures include requiring public websites with demographic data for various state agencies like correctional facilities, courts, and schools, and mandating body-worn cameras for corrections officers. The bill also introduces penalties for hate speech and creates mechanisms to review and potentially void citations issued with apparent racial or gender bias, ultimately seeking to promote more equitable and accountable public safety practices.

Justice

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H2637