HB 927 Summary

• Establishes a 180-day deadline for law enforcement and correctional agencies to complete investigations and provide written notice of intent to discipline officers, with exceptions for pending criminal cases, officer incapacity, multijurisdictional investigations, emergencies, and compliance hearing proceedings.

• Allows officers to appeal disciplinary action, suspension, demotion, or dismissal administratively or in court if proper notice is not provided within the 180-day timeframe.

• Requires officers to notify investigators of alleged intentional violations of procedural requirements and permits officers to request the agency head be informed; officer refusal to answer further questions after such notification does not constitute insubordination.

• Creates a compliance review panel process within 10 working days to determine if investigators or agencies intentionally violated officer rights, with officers bearing the burden of proof by preponderance of evidence.

• Mandates that if an investigator is found to have intentionally violated officer rights, the agency head must remove that investigator from the case and initiate a separate investigation for potential agency discipline and referral to the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission.

• Takes effect July 1, 2023.