House Bill 1910, sponsored by Rep. Dan Williams, which requires mental health evaluations with a focus on PTSD of law enforcement officers as a condition of continued employment. The evaluation may be upon request of a law enforcement officer or a police chief or within 30 days of an incident of the use of lethal force.
The bill also requires training for police officers on trauma-informed care, use of deadly force, de-escalation and harm reduction techniques, community and cultural awareness, implicit bias, procedural justice and reconciliation techniques. Under the bill, magisterial district judges are required to complete, as part of their annual continuing education requirement, one course on the identification and reporting of suspected child abuse and court proceedings involving children.
“A resounding cry for justice for all citizens has risen up throughout our commonwealth and our nation,” Rep. Dan Williams said. “The General Assembly has responded to this impassioned demand to protect the vulnerable by passing these two police reform bills unanimously and the governor by signing them into law.
“I’m proud that my bill will enhance the training the police receive so they can better serve the public and expand the reporting system to protect children from child abuse. The swift passage of these bills and their enactment into law is a sign that police reform and child protection are not partisan issues.”
“Just 36 days after a handful of Black legislators commandeered the Speaker’s rostrum on the House floor, a handful of police accountability bills were enacted in the wake of mass protests statewide that have inspired urgent and substantive legislative action when justice has demanded these measures for far too long,” said Rep. Chris Rabb.
“I am so happy to have participated in the efforts that will lead to real reforms in policing throughout Pennsylvania,” Rep. Jason Dawkins said. “None of this would be possible without a coordinated group effort. I would like to thank my partners in the General Assembly, the Governor and everyone who has demanded change for helping to make that happen. There is more work to do and we are not backing down.”
“I am so proud to have been part of this bipartisan, bicameral process to bring legislation to the Governor’s desk,” Sen. Jay Costa said. “Every corner of this state and in every one of our districts, citizens have called for reform. We’ve heard them, and we’re still listening. These bills are a step in the right direction for better outcomes in our criminal justice system, but they are just the first step. Our work continues. By enacting comprehensive reforms, I believe we can prevent the next tragedy.”
“We are proud to advance legislation in a bipartisan effort that enacts essential reforms to policing in PA,” said Sen. Sharif Street. “The stressful nature of law enforcement mandates we assess and ensure the mental health and wellness of our men and women in uniform. Additionally, ensuring elevated standards of hiring for officers who have exhibited behavior egregious enough to amount to termination is an important measure in salvaging the integrity of law enforcement and restoring the public’s faith. This indeed would have saved the life of Antwon Rose who would have turned 19 years old on July 12. These are seminal policy initiatives that must be met with other comprehensive measures. We still have work to do.”
