,,ii #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #dihg ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,december #i1 #bjbj ,mr4 ,casey introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on the ,judiciary ,a ,,bill ,to provide grants to enable nonprofit disability organizations to develop training programs that support safe interactions between law enforcement officers and individuals with disabilities and older individuals4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,safe ,interactions ,act of #bjbj4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,individuals with disabilities are #b4e times more likely to be victims of violent crime4 7#b7 ,individuals with disabilities are #c times more likely to be victims of a serious crime4 7#c7 ,individuals with disabilities make up between one-third and one-half of all individuals killed by law enforcement officers4 #c4 ,purpose ,the purpose of this ,act is to-- 7#a7 authorize the ,attorney ,general to award competitive grants to nonprofit disability organizations to administer enhanced training programs to law enforcement officers who may encounter or provide services to covered individuals1 including-- 7,a7 individuals with mental health disabilities1 including schizophrenia2 7,b7 individuals who are deaf1 hard of hearing1 or blind1 are autistic1 or have other intellectual or developmental disabilities2 7,c7 older individuals with dementia or other cognitive impairments2 7,d7 individuals with any other disabilities or chronic health condition2 and 7,e7 support1 not replace1 other specialized law enforcement officer training1 such as crisis intervention team training2 and 7#b7 7,a7 increase the awareness1 knowledge1 and understanding of law enforcement officers about covered individuals and their unique needs and applicable ,federal civil rights laws2 7,b7 reduce incidences of violence between law enforcement officers and covered individuals2 7,c7 expand the knowledge of law enforcement officers of the signs of disabilities and effective ways to approach covered individuals to minimize situations of risk to-- 7i7 those individuals2 and 7ii7 the law enforcement officers who intervene or provide services to those individuals2 and 7,d7 increase the knowledge of law enforcement officers of community resources available for covered individuals to ultimately limit interactions with law enforcement officers4 #d4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,covered grant ,the term covered grant means a grant awarded under section #e7;a74 7#b7 ,covered individual ,the term covered individual means-- 7,a7 an older individual2 or 7,b7 an individual with a disability4 7#c7 ,eligible entity ,the term eligible entity means a nonprofit disability organization that has formed a partnership with a law enforcement agency or a consortium of law enforcement agencies to administer enhanced training programs to law enforcement officers of the agency or agencies on how to interact with covered individuals4 7#d7 ,indian ,tribe ,the term ,indian ,tribe has the meaning given the term ,indian tribe in section #d of the ,indian ,self-,determination and ,education ,assistance ,act 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #ecjd74 7#e7 ,individual with a disability ,the term individual with a disability means any individual who has a disability1 as defined in section #c of the ,americans with ,disabilities ,act of #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #abajb74 7#f7 ,initial training program ,the term initial training program means a training program offered to new law enforcement officers under section #e7;d77#a77;,a74 7#g7 ,law enforcement officer ,the term law enforcement officer means any officer1 agent1 or employee of a ,state1 political subdivision of a ,state1 or ,indian ,tribe-- 7,a7 authorized by law or by a government agency to engage in or supervise the prevention1 detection1 or investigation of any violation of criminal law2 or 7,b7 authorized by law to supervise sentenced criminal offenders4 7#h7 ,nonprofit disability organization ,the term nonprofit disability organization means a nonprofit organization-- 7,a7 that serves covered individuals2 and 7,b7 7i7 that is operated by a board of which the majority of members are covered individuals2 7ii7 that has an advisory panel of which the majority of members are covered individuals2 or 7iii7 the majority of the employees of which are covered individuals4 7#i7 ,older individual ,the term older individual has the meaning given the term in section #ajb of the ,older ,americans ,act of #aife 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cjjb74 7#aj7 ,partner academy ,the term partner academy1 with respect to an eligible entity that receives a covered grant1 means a law enforcement training academy with which the eligible entity partners to administer an initial training program1 as described in section #e7;b77#a74 7#aa7 ,partner agency ,the term partner agency1 with respect to an eligible entity that receives a covered grant1 means the law enforcement agency with which the eligible entity partners1 or that is a member of a consortium with which the eligible entity partners1 to administer enhanced training programs to law enforcement officers of the agency on how to interact with covered individuals4 7#ab7 ,refresher training program ,the term refresher training program means a training program offered to existing law enforcement officers under section #e7;d77#a77;,b74 #e4 ,grant program 7a7 ,in general ,the ,attorney ,general shall award competitive grants to nonprofit disability organizations to administer enhanced training programs to law enforcement officers who may encounter or provide services to covered individuals4 7b7 ,application ,an eligible entity seeking a covered grant shall submit to the ,attorney ,general an application that-- 7#a7 7,a7 identifies a law enforcement training academy with which the eligible entity will partner to administer an initial training program2 and 7,b7 includes a memorandum of understanding entered into between the eligible entity and the law enforcement training academy2 7#b7 describes any training on how to interact with covered individuals that is provided1 as of the date of submission of the application-- 7,a7 by the partner academy to new law enforcement officers2 or 7,b7 by any partner agency to existing law enforcement officers2 7#c7 describes the learning objectives of the training programs that the eligible entity will administer using the grant2 7#d7 describes the activities that will be carried out under the grant2 7#e7 includes a timeline of the activities described in paragraph 7#d72 and 7#f7 demonstrates expertise in training related to covered individuals4 7c7 ,preferences ,in awarding covered grants1 the ,attorney ,general shall ensure-- 7#a7 geographic diversity of grant recipients1 including grant recipients that serve rural localities2 and 7#b7 that the training funded by the grant is provided to multiple levels of law enforcement agencies1 including local1 county1 ,state1 and ,tribal agencies4 7d7 ,use of funds 7#a7 ,mandatory uses ,an eligible entity that receives a covered grant shall use the grant funds to-- 7,a7 modify the training provided by the partner academy to new law enforcement officers of each partner agency so that the academy provides not fewer than #h hours of training on how to interact with covered individuals and applicable ,federal civil rights laws1 including not fewer than #d hours of interactive learning taught by covered individuals2 and 7,b7 develop and implement an enhanced training program for existing law enforcement officers of each partner agency on safe1 effective1 and respectful interactions with covered individuals-- 7i7 that includes-- 7,i7 awareness of and education about covered individuals1 including-- 7aa7 individuals with mental health disabilities1 including schizophrenia2 7bb7 individuals who are deaf1 hard of hearing1 or blind1 are autistic1 or have other intellectual or developmental disabilities2 7cc7 older individuals with dementia or other cognitive impairments2 and 7dd7 individuals with any other disabilities or chronic health condition2 7,,ii7 escalation avoidance and de-escalation techniques to be used when interacting with covered individuals1 including procedures a law enforcement officer should follow to ensure the safety and calmness of a covered individual2 and 7,,iii7 communication strategies to be used when interacting with covered individuals1 including individuals who do not use speech to communicate2 7ii7 that utilizes-- 7,i7 instructors who are covered individuals2 or 7,,ii7 guest instructors or speakers who are covered individuals2 and 7iii7 in which each law enforcement officer participates not less frequently than once every #b years4 7#b7 ,optional uses ,an eligible entity that receives a covered grant may use the grant funds to-- 7,a7 expand an existing training program regarding interaction with covered individuals that was provided to law enforcement officers by a nonprofit disability organization in conjunction with the partner academy or a partner agency before the eligible entity received the grant2 7,b7 reimburse staff members of the eligible entity for mileage and travel time expended to attend an initial training program or refresher training program2 7,c7 develop a model of training that utilizes volunteer instructors1 except that the eligible entity shall pay any instructor1 including a guest instructor1 who is a covered individual2 or 7,d7 acquire a computer system or software needed for the training programs4 7e7 ,supplement1 not supplant ,an eligible entity that receives a covered grant shall use the grant funds to supplement1 and not supplant1 any funds that would1 in the absence of the grant funds1 be made available from a ,state1 political subdivision of a ,state1 or ,indian ,tribe for the activities described in subsection 7d74 7f7 ,advisory council 7#a7 ,in general ,an eligible entity that receives a covered grant shall establish an advisory council composed of #ae members to advise the eligible entity on activities carried out using the grant4 7#b7 ,membership ,an advisory council established under paragraph 7#a7 shall-- 7,a7 be composed of-- 7i7 #a representative of the eligible entity who is a covered individual and shall serve as chair of the advisory council2 7ii7 #a representative of the ,state law enforcement training academy or law enforcement agency for the ,state that the eligible entity serves1 who shall serve as vice chair of the advisory council2 7iii7 #d representatives of community-based organizations that support individuals with disabilities1 not fewer than #b of whom have a disability2 7iv7 #b representatives of community-based organizations that support older adults2 7v7 #b ,state officials or their designees2 7vi7 #b representatives of a ,state public safety agency2 and 7vii7 #c members of the public with knowledge of individuals with disabilities and older adults with cognitive impairment1 including not fewer than #b self-advocates or family members of a covered individual2 and 7,b7 include a majority of representation from racial and ethnic minority communities4 7#c7 ,duties ,an advisory council established under paragraph 7#a7 shall-- 7,a7 advise the eligible entity and provide general oversight of grant activities carried out by the eligible entity1 including development of the training curriculum and implementation of the training programs2 and 7,b7 provide the advisory council with recommendations for the sustainability and expansion of the training programs1 such as the development of a train-the-trainer model4 7g7 ,annual report 7#a7 ,report to ,attorney ,general by eligible entities ,not later than #a year after receiving a covered grant1 and each year thereafter for the duration of the grant period1 an eligible entity that receives a covered grant shall submit the following information to the ,attorney ,general with respect to the preceding year3 7,a7 ,the number of individuals who benefitted from the training programs provided by the eligible entity using grant funds1 including-- 7i7 the number of individuals who were trained through the training programs1 including the total number of new law enforcement officers who participated in the initial training program2 and 7ii7 the estimated number of individuals who were impacted by the training programs4 7,b7 ,demographic data1 including age1 sex1 and race1 for the law enforcement officers who received the training4 7,c7 ,the number of partner agencies that participated in the training programs4 7,d7 ,each partner law enforcement agency1 including the city and ,state in which the headquarters and each local office of the agency are located1 and the result of that partnership4 7,e7 ,any recommendations for improving the grant program carried out under this ,act4 7#b7 ,report to ,congress by ,attorney ,general ,not later than #b years after the date of enactment of this ,act1 and each year thereafter1 the ,attorney ,general shall submit a report on the grant program carried out under this ,act1 with respect to the preceding year1 to-- 7,a7 the ,committee on the ,judiciary of the ,senate2 7,b7 the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,senate2 7,c7 the ,special ,committee on ,aging of the ,senate2 7,d7 the ,committee on the ,judiciary of the ,house of ,representatives2 and 7,e7 the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,house of ,representatives4 7h7 ,evaluation 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,attorney ,general shall use not more than #b percent of the amounts made available under section #f for administrative purposes and for an evaluation of the grant program carried out under this ,act4 7#b7 ,independent evaluator ,the ,attorney ,general shall enter into a contract with a third-party entity that is unrelated to any recipient of a covered grant to carry out the evaluation under paragraph 7#a74 7#c7 ,contents ,in carrying out the evaluation under paragraph 7#a71 the third-party entity contracted under paragraph 7#b7 shall report to the ,attorney ,general on-- 7,a7 the demographic characteristics of the population served by the training conducted by eligible entities using covered grants2 and 7,b7 any change in the occurrence of violence in the communities served by training described in subparagraph 7,a74 #f4 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to the ,attorney ,general #ej1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjba through #bjbd to carry out this ,act4