FL S0772

Legislature finds that law enforcement recruitment and training programs at historically Black colleges and universities will help reduce racial disparities among law enforcement officers and promote understanding of racial and cultural differences.

Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University and Florida Memorial University shall establish the Law Enforcement Academy for Diverse Communities, contingent upon appropriation, to recruit, educate, and employ members of racially and culturally diverse populations in law enforcement.

Academy curriculum must include education on reforming policing techniques to eliminate corruption and racial profiling, overview of historical barriers affecting women and racial and ethnic minorities in law enforcement, and youth mentoring projects to improve community-law enforcement relations.

Academy may establish data collection procedures on racial profiling, expand community policing partnerships, and organize outreach and recruitment events targeting racially and culturally diverse populations.

Effective date is July 1, 2015.