S.F. No. 78 Summary

• Requires each local unit of government overseeing a law enforcement agency to establish a citizen oversight council by September 1, 2020, with first meeting by October 1, 2020.

• Citizen oversight councils must have majority citizen membership reflecting the community's diversity, including minority and youth populations, and may include law enforcement, prosecutors, educators, clergy, and business leaders.

• Councils may investigate officer misconduct, recommend discipline, and make recommendations on agency tactics, budgets, training, employment policies, use of force, and personnel decisions; recommendations are advisory and not binding on the chief law enforcement officer.

• Requires the Peace Officers Standards and Training Board to develop a model procedural justice policy by August 15, 2020, mandating officers obtain consent for searches, identify themselves fully, state reasons for stops or searches, and report demographic information about persons encountered.

• Requires all state and local law enforcement agencies to adopt procedural justice policies by November 1, 2020, and mandates preservice and in-service training in procedural justice and community interaction skills, with appropriations for soft body armor reimbursements, officer counseling services, and council establishment.