Bill > H2098

This bill mandates that the municipal police training committee establish a mandatory training course for both recruit and in-service law enforcement officers and correction officers, with the goal of improving their interactions with individuals on the autism spectrum. This training, which must be incorporated into existing curricula by specific deadlines, will cover understanding the nature and manifestations of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), which is defined as a range of developmental disabilities including conditions like autistic disorder and Asperger's disorder, and will emphasize positive responses, de-escalation techniques, understanding sensory and language processing differences, and appropriate interrogation methods, all while ensuring the safety and rights of autistic individuals. The training will also include guidance for law enforcement on responding to autistic individuals who are victims, witnesses, or suspected of crimes, and will require autistic adults and experts in the field to be involved as presenters. The bill defines "law enforcement officer" broadly to include various police roles and "correction officer" as those responsible for the custody and care of incarcerated or detained individuals, and clarifies that "agency" refers to an individual's ability to make independent decisions.