Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

H.B. 334 (2021GS)

Sponsor

Rep. Eliason, S.

Final action

Governor Signed 3/17/2021

Outcome

Became law — signed by Gov. Spencer J. Cox

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• requires that peace officers have training in intervention responses to autism spectrum disorder and other mental illnesses.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

SPECIAL NEEDS TRAINING FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT
AMENDMENTS
GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Steve Eliason
Senate Sponsor: 
Daniel W. Thatcher
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill requires peace officer training to include training on autism spectrum disorder
and other mental illnesses.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
▸ requires that peace officers have training in intervention responses to autism
spectrum disorder and other mental illnesses.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
53-6-202
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2020, Fifth Special Session, Chapter 6
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 
53-6-202
 is amended to read:
53-6-202.
Basic training course -- Completion required -- Annual training --
Prohibition from exercising powers -- Reinstatement.
(1) (a) The director shall:
(i) (A) suggest and prepare subject material; and
(B) schedule instructors for basic training courses; or
(ii) review the material and instructor choices submitted by a certified academy.
(b) The subject material, instructors, and schedules shall be approved or disapproved
by a majority vote of the council.
(2) The materials shall be reviewed and approved by the council on or before July 1st
of each year and may from time to time be changed or amended by majority vote of the council.
(3) The basic training in a certified academy:
(a) shall be appropriate for the basic training of peace officers in the techniques of law
enforcement in the discretion of the director; and
(b) may not include the use of chokeholds, carotid restraints, or any act that impedes
the breathing or circulation of blood likely to produce a loss of consciousness, as a valid
method of restraint.
(4) (a) All peace officers [
must
] 
shall
 satisfactorily complete the basic training course
or the waiver process provided for in this chapter as well as annual certified training of not less
than 40 hours as the director, with the advice and consent of the council, directs.
(b) A peace officer who fails to satisfactorily complete the annual training shall
automatically be prohibited from exercising peace officer powers until any deficiency is made
up.
(5) The director shall ensure that annual training covers intervention responses for
mental illnesses, autism spectrum disorder, and other neurological and developmental
disorders.