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Public Law
124th Legislature
First Regular Session
Chapter 353
S.P. 526 - L.D. 1442
An Act To Create the Advisory Committee on Bias-based Profiling by Law Enforcement Officers and Law Enforcement Agencies
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.   5 MRSA §12004-I, sub-§74-F  is enacted to read:
 
74-F.      
Public Safety	 	Advisory Committee on Bias-based Profiling by Law Enforcement Officers and Law Enforcement Agencies	 	Not Authorized	 	25 MRSA §3001	
 
Sec. 2.   25 MRSA c. 355  is enacted to read:
 CHAPTER 355
ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON BIAS-BASED PROFILING BY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES
§ 3001.   Advisory Committee on Bias-based Profiling by Law Enforcement Officers and Law Enforcement Agencies
 
1.  Committee established.      The Advisory Committee on Bias-based Profiling by Law Enforcement Officers and Law Enforcement Agencies, referred to in this chapter as “the committee,” is established by Title 5, section 12004-I, subsection 74-F to study the issue of bias-based profiling.
 
2.  Definitions.      As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.
 
 A.  ”Bias-based profiling” means the use by a law enforcement officer or law enforcement agency of race, ethnicity, religion or national origin, in the absence of a specific report or other identifying information, as a factor in determining the existence of probable cause or reasonable suspicion for an arrest, investigative detention, field identification or traffic stop.
 
 B.  ”Commissioner” means the Commissioner of Public Safety.
 
3.  Membership.      The committee consists of the following members:
 
 A.  The commissioner or the commissioner’s designee, who shall act as cochair;
 
 B.  One representative from each of the following law enforcement organizations, appointed by the commissioner from a list submitted by the organization to the commissioner:
 
(1) One representative of a statewide association of chiefs of police;
 
(2) One representative of a statewide association of sheriffs;
 
(3) One representative of police labor organizations in this State; and
 
(4) One at-large active line officer who is a member of a police labor organization in this State;
 
 C.  One at-large representative who is a current or former officer of the Maine State Police, appointed by the commissioner;
 
 D.  The Attorney General or the Attorney General’s designee;
 
 E.  One representative appointed by the Board of Trustees of the Maine Criminal Justice Academy;
 
 F.  Seven representatives from different civil rights organizations in the State, each appointed by the commissioner and selected from a list submitted by civil rights organizations to the commissioner. Of the 7, at least one representative must be selected from the list submitted by chapters of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People within the State, and that member shall act as cochair; and
 
 G.  One representative appointed by the commissioner and selected from lists submitted by federally recognized Indian tribes in this State.
 
4.  Terms.      Members shall serve for 3-year terms. When a vacancy occurs, the original appointing authority shall appoint a new member to serve for the remainder of the term.
 
5.  Meetings.      The committee may meet as often as necessary.
 
6.  Compensation.      Members of the committee are not entitled to compensation according to the provisions in Title 5, section 12004-I, subsection 74-F.
 
7.  Duties.      The committee shall:
 
 A.  Work with the Board of Trustees of the Maine Criminal Justice Academy to develop a model policy on bias-based profiling;
 
 B.  Work with law enforcement across the State on a voluntary basis to assess whether or not bias-based profiling occurs in this State and, if it does, to what extent and to offer proposals and make recommendations to address the matter;
 
 C.  Make recommendations to the Board of Trustees of the Maine Criminal Justice Academy on curricula for basic and in-service law enforcement training on the subject of bias-based profiling;
 
 D.  Establish a mechanism for outreach and public awareness campaigns to educate advocacy organizations and the general public about modern law enforcement practices and procedures; and
 
 E.  Advise the Legislature on matters involving bias-based profiling on its own initiative or when requested.
 
8.  Annual report.      Beginning in 2010, the committee shall report annually by February 15th and as requested to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over criminal justice and public safety matters and to the Board of Trustees of the Maine Criminal Justice Academy. The report may serve as a guide for the joint standing committee concerning the need for legislation on the issue of bias-based profiling. The joint standing committee is authorized to report out relevant legislation after receiving the committee’s annual report.
§ 3002.   Advisory Committee on Bias-based Profiling by Law Enforcement Officers and Law Enforcement Agencies Fund
 
1.  Fund established.      The Advisory Committee on Bias-based Profiling by Law Enforcement Officers and Law Enforcement Agencies Fund, referred to in this section as “the fund,” is established as an Other Special Revenue Funds account and is nonlapsing. The commissioner may use the fund only to support the costs associated with committee administration and educational and training materials regarding bias-based profiling.
 
2.  Revenue sources.      The commissioner may accept private and public contributions intended to be used for the purposes of the fund.
 
3.  Budget.      The commissioner shall submit a budget for the fund for each biennium pursuant to Title 5, sections 1663 and 1666.
§ 3003.   Repeal
This chapter is repealed November 1, 2012.
Sec. 3.  Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.
 
PUBLIC SAFETY, DEPARTMENT OF
 
Criminal Justice Academy 0290
 
Initiative: Establishes the Advisory Committee on Bias-based Profiling by Law Enforcement Officers and Law Enforcement Agencies Fund with a base allocation of $500.
 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS	2009-10	2010-11	
All Other
	$500	$500	
 	 	 	
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL	$500	$500	

Effective September 12, 2009