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2023 - 2024 LEGISLATURE
2023 ASSEMBLY BILL 1222
April 11, 2024 - Introduced by Representatives MADISON, MOORE OMOKUNDE and
CLANCY, cosponsored by Senators L. JOHNSON and LARSON. Referred to
Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety.
***AUTHORS SUBJECT TO CHANGE***
AN ACT to renumber and amend 165.85 (3) (cm); to amend 165.85 (3m) (c),
165.85 (4) (c) 7. and 175.44 (2) (b) (intro.); and to create 165.85 (3m) (am) 1m.
and 165.85 (4m) of the statutes; relating to: decertification of law enforcement,
tribal law enforcement, jail, or juvenile detention officers and the use of force
by law enforcement officers.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Current law provides the circumstances under which a law enforcement officer
may use force. Under current law, a law enforcement officer must make every effort
to preserve and protect human life and the safety of all persons. Law enforcement
officers may use force that is objectively reasonable based on the totality of the
circumstances, including the severity of the crime, if the suspect poses an imminent
threat, or if the suspect is actively resisting or evading arrest by flight. This bill adds
that a law enforcement officer should use skills and tactics, including de-escalation
tactics, that minimize the likelihood that force will become necessary and that a law
enforcement officer who is authorized to use force must use the least amount of force
necessary to address the threat.
Under current law, the Law Enforcement Standards Board may decertify law
enforcement, tribal law enforcement, jail, or juvenile detention officers for a variety
of reasons. This bill provides that LESB must decertify officers for those reasons, and
adds the following to the list of reasons to decertify an officer: 1) violating or not
complying with the law governing the use of force and 2) terminating employment
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while under investigation for committing an act of official misconduct. An officer
decertified while under investigation for committing an act of official misconduct
may not be recertified unless the officer receives a waiver from the police commission
or police and fire commission, if applicable, or the governing body, of the jurisdiction
in which he or she seeks employment and corresponding recertification. The bill also
requires that LESB decertify officers within 30 days after the relevant event that is
the cause for decertification.
The bill requires LESB to develop a model use of force policy for law
enforcement agencies to use in addition to complying with the law governing the use
of force. The model policy must address interactions with individuals with mental
disorders, alcohol or drug problems, dementia disorders, and developmental
disabilities; limit the use of force against vulnerable populations; and include other
best practices that LESB identifies.
For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as
an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SECTION 1. 165.85 (3) (cm) of the statutes is renumbered 165.85 (3m) (am), and
165.85 (3m) (am) (intro.), 1. and 2., as renumbered, are amended to read:
165.85 (3m) (am) (intro.) Decertify Within 30 days after the relevant event,
decertify law enforcement, tribal law enforcement, jail, or juvenile detention officers
who do any of the following:
1. Resign employment in lieu of termination or are terminated for just cause
under any applicable provision of law, unless the board determines under sub. (3m)
(c) that decertification on this ground is not necessary.
2. Violate or fail to comply with a rule, policy, or order of the board relating to
curriculum, training, or recruitment or violate or fail to comply with s. 175.44.
SECTION 2. 165.85 (3m) (am) 1m. of the statutes is created to read:
165.85 (3m) (am) 1m. Terminate employment while under investigation for an
alleged act of official misconduct. An officer decertified under this subdivision may
not be certified in the future unless the officer is granted a waiver by the police
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ASSEMBLY BILL 1222
commission or police and fire commission, if applicable, of the jurisdiction in which
the officer seeks employment and corresponding recertification, or by the governing
body, as defined in s. 66.0309 (1) (a), of the city, village, town, or county of the
jurisdiction in which the officer seeks employment and corresponding recertification.
SECTION 3. 165.85 (3m) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
165.85 (3m) (c) Establish procedures for decertification under sub. (3) (cm) par.
(am) in compliance with ch. 227, except that decertification for an action described
under sub. (3) (cm) par. (am) 8. shall be done as provided under par. (a). The
procedures shall include a process for reviewing a resignation in lieu of termination
or a termination for just cause.
SECTION 4. 165.85 (4) (c) 7. of the statutes is amended to read:
165.85 (4) (c) 7. Any person employed and certified as a jail officer on July 1,
1994, is certified as a juvenile detention officer and remains certified as a juvenile
detention officer subject to annual recertification requirements under subd. 6. and
the board's decertification authority requirements under sub. (3) (cm) (3m) (am).
SECTION 5. 165.85 (4m) of the statutes is created to read:
165.85 (4m) BEST PRACTICES. The board shall develop, and review at least once
every 2 years, a model use of force policy for law enforcement agencies to use in
addition to complying with s. 175.44 that does all of the following:
(a) Addresses interactions with individuals with mental disorders, alcohol or
drug problems, dementia disorders, and developmental disabilities.
(b) Limits the use of force against vulnerable populations, including children,
elderly individuals, pregnant women, individuals with physical or mental
disabilities, and individuals with limited English proficiency.
(c) Includes other best practices that the board identifies.
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SECTION 6 ASSEMBLY BILL 1222
SECTION 6. 175.44 (2) (b) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
175.44 (2) (b) Use of force. (intro.) When using force, a law enforcement officer
is required to act in good faith to achieve a legitimate law enforcement objective. A
law enforcement officer shall use skills and tactics, including de-escalation tactics,
that minimize the likelihood that force will become necessary. A law enforcement
officer is authorized to use force that is the least amount of force necessary to address
a threat safely and that is objectively reasonable based on the totality of the
circumstances, including:
(END)
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