VT S0097

Creates municipal and regional community police oversight boards to receive, investigate, and address all complaints against law enforcement agencies and officers, including unprofessional conduct, use of force resulting in death or serious bodily injury, and officer-involved deaths

Requires boards to consist of at least seven members including individuals with lived experience in the criminal justice system (one from the BIPOC community), civil rights organization representatives, mental health or disability rights experts, and attorneys with civil/human rights experience; limits law enforcement representation to one active or retired officer

Grants boards authority to issue subpoenas, administer oaths, inspect agency records including personnel files and body camera footage, hire investigators and attorneys, and issue public reports with sanction recommendations that must be given deference by the Vermont Criminal Justice Council

Requires law enforcement agencies to report all complaints to the oversight board within seven business days and fully cooperate with board investigations; boards must participate in collective bargaining negotiations involving law enforcement officers

Appropriates $500,000 from the General Fund to the Vermont Criminal Justice Council to administer a grant program helping municipalities and regions establish and operate their oversight boards, effective July 1, 2025