Bill > HB511

This bill establishes the "Law Enforcement Pursuit Safety and Technology Grant Program" within the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Criminal Justice, referred to as the "commission," to provide financial aid to state, parish, and municipal law enforcement agencies for acquiring and training on technologies and devices that can safely end high-speed vehicle pursuits. These funds can be used for training or purchasing equipment such as GPS tracking projectiles, vehicle-stopping nets or tethering systems like the Grappler, and remote-controlled tire deflation devices, with the goal of enhancing pursuit safety and integrating it into the state's Strategic Highway Safety Plan. The commission is authorized to accept various funding sources, including federal grants like the Highway Safety Improvement Program (under 23 U.S.C. 148) and the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program, and will prioritize agencies that have incorporated these technologies into their policies and emphasize officer safety by minimizing manual deployment risks. The Act is also known as the "Sergeant Grant Candies Officer Safety Act."