Florida Senate - 2021 SB By Senator Bracy 11-00055-21 2021450__ CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. A bill to be entitled

An act relating to citizen review boards; creating s. 2 900.06, F.S.; requiring law enforcement agencies that employ law enforcement officers being investigated for use of force by a citizen review board to include a member of the citizen review board as part of the law enforcement agency’s investigative team; creating s. 7 900.061, F.S.; providing legislative findings and intent; requiring the county commission or other governing body of each county to establish a citizen review board with the authority and ability to independently investigate law enforcement agencies within that county; providing requirements for citizen review boards; providing an effective date. 14

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 16

Section

Section 900.06, Florida Statutes, is created to read: 19 900.06 Citizen review board member participation in use of force investigations.—Each law enforcement agency in this state which employs a law enforcement officer for which an investigation is opened under s. 900.061(4)(b)1. by a citizen review board shall include a member of the citizen review board as part of the law enforcement agency’s investigative team. 25

Section

Section 900.061, Florida Statutes, is created to read: 27 900.061 Citizen review boards.— 28

(1) The Legislature finds that an effective way for our Florida Senate - 2021 SB 450 11-00055-21 2021450__ CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. communities and the law enforcement agencies that serve them to build mutual trust and positive relationships is through the establishment of citizen review boards. 32

(2) It is the intent of the Legislature to require the establishment of a citizen review board in each county of this state to provide civilian oversight of law enforcement agencies within the respective counties through independent investigations. 37

(3) By July 1, 2022, the county commission or other governing body, as appropriate, of each county in this state shall establish a citizen review board with the authority and ability to independently investigate each law enforcement agency within that county. 42

(4) Each citizen review board shall comply with all of the following requirements: 44

(

a) Be composed of at least but not more than 15 individuals appointed by the county commission or other governing body of the county, as appropriate. A member of the board may not be a current employee of the state or county, or of any subdivision of the county. 49

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c) Create a standard form and a uniform process for the submission of complaints. 65

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d) Create a uniform process or procedure for the processing of complaints. 67

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e) Meet with the individual who submitted the complaint. 68

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f) Meet with the law enforcement officer against whom the complaint was made. 70

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g) Meet with one or more witnesses, if any, to the event that prompted the complaint. 72

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h) Prepare a report on the findings of the investigation. 73

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i) Submit the report and any recommendations to the county commission or other governing body of the county, as appropriate, and to the head of the law enforcement agency that employs the law enforcement officer. 77

Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2021. 78