2023 -- H 5881

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LC001984

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- POLICE OFFICERS -

COMMISSION ON STANDARDS AND TRAINING

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Noret, Hull, Casimiro, Baginski, Solomon, McNamara,
Phillips, Cardillo, Corvese, and J. Brien

     Date Introduced: March 01, 2023

     Referred To: House Health & Human Services

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 42-28.2-8.3 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-28.2 entitled "Police

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Officers — Commission on Standards and Training" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     42-28.2-8.3. Educational requirements — National certified mental health first aid

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training Educational requirements — National certified mental health training.

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     (a) The commission on standards and training shall prepare and publish mandatory training

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standards to provide instructions for police officers in identifying recognizing the possible

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existence of a disorder and handling of complaints involving mental health/substance abuse use

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emergencies, and victims, witnesses, or suspects with mental illness or substance use disorders and

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shall develop guidelines for law enforcement responses to incidents involving such persons. The

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course of instruction shall comply with the certified National Council of Behavioral Health Mental

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Health First Aid Program (MHFA) for law enforcement, an International Certified Crisis

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Intervention Team (ICCIT) training program, or other best practice training recognized by the

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International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP). Instruction and the guidelines shall include:

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     (1) Identifying and recognizing Recognizing the possible existence of a mental illness or

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substance use disorders for the benefit of victims and witnesses, the availability of civil remedies

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and community resources for persons experiencing mental health emergencies, and the protection

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of persons with mental illness or substance use disorders and for law enforcement officers engaging

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such persons;

 

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     (2) Providing information to law enforcement officers to recognize the signs and symptoms

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of common mental illnesses and substance use disorders, de-escalating crisis situations safely, and

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initiating timely referral to mental health and substance abuse use resources available in the

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community.

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     (b) The commission shall include training in all curricula for recruits and in-service

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trainees, in all police academies operating or certified by the commission. All law enforcement

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trainees shall be certified by the National Council of Behavioral Health in Mental Health First Aid,

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an International Certified Crisis Intervention Team (ICCIT) training program, or other best practice

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training recognized by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP).

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     (c) All law enforcement trainees shall may participate in the course of basic training for

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law enforcement officers, established in this section, as part of their required certification process.

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     (d) Training presenters shall may include behavioral health practitioners with expertise in

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the delivery of direct services to individuals experiencing mental health or substance abuse use

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emergencies, police officers who are certified trainers in the respective training being delivered and

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victims, witnesses, and suspects with lived experience of mental illness and consumer-survivors

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i.e. individuals with mental illness or substance use disorders. Training presentations may utilize

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the staff of community-based mental health treatment facilities.

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     (e) The course of instruction, the learning and performance objectives, the standards for

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training, and the guidelines shall be developed by the municipal police training committee in

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consultation with groups and individuals having an interest and expertise in the field of mental

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health and community-based treatment.

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     (f) The municipal police training committee periodically shall include within its in-service

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training curriculum a course of instruction on handling complaints from or against persons with

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mental illness or substance use disorders, consistent with the provisions of subsections (a)(1) and

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(a)(2).

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     (g) As used in this section, the following words and terms shall have the following

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meanings:

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     (1) “Law enforcement officer” shall mean any officer of a municipal police department or

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a department of the state.

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     (2) “Consumer-survivor” shall mean any individual suffering from with live experience of

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a mental health disability condition or substance abuse use disorder.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- POLICE OFFICERS -

COMMISSION ON STANDARDS AND TRAINING

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     This act would require police training on recognizing the possible existence of mental

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health disorders and substance use disorders and would require certified crisis intervention team

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training for all officers.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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