SLS 23RS-121 ORIGINAL
2023 Regular Session
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 8
BY SENATOR KLEINPETER
LAW ENFORCEMENT. Creates the Task Force on Safety for Law Enforcement Officers
Involved in High Speed Vehicle Pursuits to study and review police officer training and
protocols necessary to increase the safety of law enforcement officers and innocent
bystanders.
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2 To create and provide for the Task Force on Safety for Law Enforcement Officers Involved
3 in High Speed Vehicle Pursuits.
4 WHEREAS, law enforcement professionals provide critical and necessary services
5 to motorists in one of the most dangerous work environments; and
6 WHEREAS, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, motor
7 vehicle-related incidents are a leading cause of line-of-duty deaths for law enforcement
8 officers in the United States, evidenced by the fact that thirty-three percent of all line-of-duty
9 deaths between the years 2011 through 2020 were due to motor vehicle-related
10 incidents; and
11 WHEREAS, the risk of death to innocent bystanders and loss of property is greatly
12 enhanced when a law enforcement officer must engage in a high speed vehicle pursuit to
13 apprehend a dangerous criminal; and
14 WHEREAS, University of Washington researchers found that each year
15 approximately three hundred fatalities in the United States occur during police pursuits and
16 more than thirty percent of the fatalities were innocent bystanders who were not involved
17 in the pursuit; and
18 WHEREAS, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, local law
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1 enforcement agencies provide approximately ninety percent of all automobile-related law
2 enforcement services to the public; and
3 WHEREAS, local law enforcement agencies face unique challenges in terms of
4 safety training due to limited funding and a limited pool of qualified candidates willing to
5 serve; and
6 WHEREAS, the legislature recognizes that the vast majority of law enforcement
7 officers are committed to working diligently to keep our roadways safe; and
8 WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the public to find ways to increase safety
9 training and enhance protocols for law enforcement officers involved in high speed vehicle
10 pursuits in order to limit injuries and deaths of both officers and innocent people who were
11 not involved in the high speed pursuit.
12 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
13 establish and provide for the Task Force on Safety for Law Enforcement Officers Involved
14 in High Speed Vehicle Pursuits to study and review police officer training and protcols for
15 safety when the officer is involved in a high speed vehicle pursuit.
16 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the task force, if it deems it necessary or
17 appropriate, may make recommendations or propose legislation or both, by written report
18 to the legislature and to the David R. Poynter Legislative Research Library as required by
19 R.S. 24:771 and 772, no later than February 15, 2024.
20 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force should include consideration of
21 available low cost or no cost training for local law enforcement agencies, available sources
22 of funds to assist local law enforcement agencies with the costs of providing necessary
23 training and effective protocols, possible enhancement of criminal penalties for perpetrators
24 who instigate high speed vehicle pursuits with law enforcement, and such other related
25 topics as is determined relevant by the chairperson or by the task force.
26 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall consist of the following
27 members:
28 (1) One senator appointed by the president of the Senate, who shall serve as the
29 chairperson.
30 (2) One member of the House of Representatives, appointed by the speaker of the
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1 House of Representatives.
2 (3) One member of the internal affairs division of the Department of Public Safety
3 and Corrections, office of state police, appointed by the superintendent.
4 (4) The executive director of the Louisiana District Attorneys Association, or his
5 designee.
6 (5) The state public defender, or his designee.
7 (6) The executive director of the Louisiana Sheriffs' Association, or his designee.
8 (7) One member of the Louisiana Association of Chiefs of Police, appointed by the
9 president of the association.
10 (8) One member of the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement, appointed by
11 the executive director.
12 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that each designating authority shall submit the
13 names of designees to the task force chairperson no later than August 1, 2023.
14 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall convene for its first meeting
15 no later than September 15, 2023, at the call of chairperson of the task force.
16 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a majority of the task force shall constitute a
17 quorum for the transaction of business, and all official actions of the task force shall require
18 the affirmative vote of a majority of the members.
19 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of the task force shall serve
20 without compensation except per diem or expenses reimbursement to which they may be
21 individually entitled as members of their constituent organizations.
22 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall terminate on the date of the
23 submission of its report or February 15, 2024, whichever occurs first.
24 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
25 Department of Public Safety and Corrections, office of state police, Louisiana District
26 Attorneys Association, the state public defender, the Louisiana Sheriffs' Association, the
27 Louisiana Association of Chiefs of Police, and the Louisiana Commission on Law
28 Enforcement.
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The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Carla S. Roberts.
DIGEST
SCR 8 Original 2023 Regular Session Kleinpeter
Establishes the Task Force on Safety for Law Enforcement Officers Involved in High Speed
Vehicle Pursuits to study and review police officer training and protcols for safety when the
officer is involved in a high speed vehicle pursuit, and to propose recommendations and
specific proposals for legislation, if any, by written report no later than February 15, 2024.
Provides that the task force will consist of the following members:
(1)One senator appointed by the president of the Senate, who will serve as chairperson
of the task force.
(2)One member of the House of Representatives, appointed by the speaker.
(3)One member of the internal affairs division of the Dept. of Public Safety and
Corrections, office of state police, appointed by the superintendent.
(4)The executive director of the La. District Attorneys Association, or his designee.
(5)The state public defender, or his designee.
(6)The executive director of the La. Sheriffs' Association, or his designee.
(7)One member of the La. Association of Chiefs of Police, appointed by the president
of the association.
(8)One member of the La. Commission on Law Enforcement, appointed by the
executive director.
Provides relative to meetings of the task force, quorum, and voting.
Specifies that the members of the task force serve without compensation, except for such
reimbursement or per diem they are individually entitled to as members of the constituent
group they represent. Provides that the names of the members are to be submitted to the
chair of the task force by August 1, 2023, and the chair will thereafter call the first meeting
of the task force no later than September 15, 2023.
Provides that the task force may make a written report of its finding and recommendations
by February 15, 2024.
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