HB 1519

AN ACT relative to diversity training for law enforcement and educational personnel.

SPONSORS: Rep. Buckley, Hills 44; Rep. Williams, Hills 39; Rep. Keye, Hills 30; Rep. Konys, Hills 33; Rep. M. Fuller Clark, Rock 36; Sen. Trombly, Dist 7; Sen. Wheeler, Dist 21; Sen. Cohen, Dist 24; Sen. D'Allesandro, Dist 20

This bill requires that law enforcement and educational personnel shall have completed training in diversity issues as a condition of their initial licensing, certification, or upon initial recertification.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

AN ACT relative to diversity training for law enforcement and educational personnel.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 New Subparagraph; State Board of Education; Rulemaking for Diversity Training Courses Added. Amend RSA 21-N:9, II by inserting after subparagraph (bb) the following new subparagraph:

(cc) Standards for approval of diversity training courses for educational personnel as required under RSA 186:11, XXXVI.

2 Police Standards and Training; Education and Training Required; Diversity Training Added. Amend RSA 188-F:27, I and II to read as follows:

I. At the earliest practical time, the council shall provide by rule that after one year from the effective date of the rule no person shall be appointed as a police officer, state corrections officer, or state probation-parole officer, except on a temporary or probationary basis, unless such person has satisfactorily completed a preparatory program of police, corrections, or probation-parole training appropriate to such person's position at a school approved by the council. Such program of training shall include a diversity training course as required in RSA 188-F:27-a. No such officer who lacks the educational and training qualifications required by this section may have the temporary or probationary employment extended beyond 2 years.

II. Every elected police officer shall be required to satisfactorily complete a preparatory program of police training at a school approved by the council. Such program of training shall include a diversity training course as required in RSA 188-F:27-a. Any elected officer who has not complied with the educational and training requirements of this paragraph within 6 months after election shall be removed from office by the governing body of the governmental unit by which such officer was elected; provided, however, that the council may, for such reasons as it may specify in its rules, grant an extension of this time limit not to exceed an additional 6 months. A governing body which has removed an elected police officer from office under the provisions of this paragraph shall appoint a police officer to fill the vacant office. The appointed police officer shall continue to hold office until the elected officer who was removed has complied with the educational and training requirements of this paragraph or until an election is held, whichever occurs first. If any police officer who has failed to comply with the educational and training requirements of this paragraph is reelected, such officer shall not take office without permission of the council. If a noncomplying police officer who has not obtained the permission of the council to take office is reelected, the governing body of the governmental unit by which such officer was elected shall appoint a police officer to fill the vacant office. The appointed police officer shall continue to hold office until the elected officer has complied with the educational and training requirements of this paragraph or until an election is held, whichever occurs first.

3 New Section; Police Standards and Training; Diversity Training Required. Amend RSA 188-F by inserting after section 27 the following new section:

I. In addition to any other training and education requirements in this subdivision, any elected or appointed police officer as defined in RSA 188-F:23, I, shall, prior to certification or initial recertification, demonstrate by evidence satisfactory to the council, that the police officer has successfully completed a course in diversity training. At a minimum, such course shall include the study of racial, ethnic, sexual, religious, physical and mental disabilities, and other diversity issues determined by the council to be relevant to the duties and responsibilities of the police officer. Such training shall be creditable toward continuing education requirements as deemed appropriate by the council. Police officers shall be responsible for any costs or fees associated with the course.

II. The council shall adopt rules, pursuant to RSA 541-A, relative to the standards for the approval of diversity training courses required under this subdivision.

4 New Paragraph; State Board of Education; Diversity Training Program Added. Amend RSA 186:11 by inserting after paragraph XXXV the following new paragraph:

XXXVI. DIVERSITY TRAINING FOR EDUCATIONAL PERSONNEL. In addition to any other training and education required under this section, all educational personnel as defined in RSA 21-N:9, II (s), shall, prior to certification or initial recertification, demonstrate by evidence satisfactory to the state board, that he or she has successfully completed a course in diversity training. At a minimum, such course shall include the study of racial, ethnic, sexual, religious, physical and mental disabilities, and other diversity issues as deemed appropriate by the state board. Such training shall be creditable toward continuing education requirements as deemed appropriate by the state board. Educational personnel shall be responsible for any costs or fees associated with the course. The state board shall adopt rules, pursuant to RSA 541-A, relative to the standards for the approval of diversity training courses required under this paragraph.