Bill Text - HB1174 (2020)

(New Title) requiring screening for all law enforcement officers for psychological stability prior to assuming their duties as certified officers.


Revision: Dec. 2, 2019, 11:06 a.m.

HB 1174 - AS INTRODUCED

 

 

2020 SESSION

20-2226

08/10

 

HOUSE BILL 1174

 

AN ACT requiring screening for all law enforcement officers for psychological stability and substance use disorders prior to assuming their duties as certified officers.

 

SPONSORS: Rep. Cushing, Rock. 21; Rep. Welch, Rock. 13; Rep. Harriott-Gathright, Hills. 36; Rep. Pantelakos, Rock. 25; Rep. Meuse, Rock. 29; Rep. Swinburne, Ches. 10; Rep. Murphy, Hills. 21; Sen. Hennessey, Dist 5

 

COMMITTEE: Criminal Justice and Public Safety

 

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ANALYSIS

 

This bill requires screening for all law enforcement officers for psychological stability and substance use disorders prior to assuming their duties as certified officers.

 

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

20-2226

08/10

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty

 

AN ACT requiring screening for all law enforcement officers for psychological stability and substance use disorders prior to assuming their duties as certified officers.

 

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 

1  Police Standards and Training Council; Education and Training Required.  Amend RSA 106-L:6, VI to read as follows:

VI.  The council shall require that all uncertified part-time and full-time police officers, state corrections officers, and probation-parole officers, prior to assuming their duties, successfully pass a psychological screening test battery administered under the direction of a licensed psychologist or psychiatrist according to protocols adopted by the council and designed to detect behavioral traits that could adversely affect the person's ability to perform the essential functions of a law enforcement officer, including substance use disorders.  Such an examination shall be valid for a period of one year from the date of administration for purposes of application for such employment.

2  Reimbursement of Expenses; Police Standards and Training Council.  Amend RSA 106-L:9 to read as follows:

106-L:9  Reimbursement of Expenses.  The council may reimburse political subdivisions or the state for, or may pay for a portion of, the expenses incurred by the officers in attendance at police training programs conducted or approved by the council and for testing for psychological and substance use disorders for candidates for certification as law enforcement officers.

3  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.