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An Act To Enhance Public Safety Response to High-risk Events
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  25 MRSA §2803-A, sub-§8-D  is enacted to read:
 
8-D.  Certification and training for crisis negotiators.     To establish certification standards and a training program for crisis negotiators, as defined in section 3851, subsection 5. The requirements must include specific training on:
 
A.  Assessing the emotional stability of a person who takes another person hostage;
 
B.  Strategies involving crisis resolution;
 
C.  Crisis negotiator communication skills; and
 
D.  Discerning indicators of suicidal intent.
 
The program must include a critical analysis of past incidents involving deployments of tactical teams as defined in section 3851, subsection 11;
Sec. 2.  25 MRSA §2803-A, sub-§8-E  is enacted to read:
 
8-E.  Certification and training for tactical teams.     To establish certification standards and a training program for tactical teams as defined in section 3851, subsection 11;
Sec. 3.  25 MRSA c. 409  is enacted to read:
CHAPTER 409
TACTICAL TEAMS AND HIGH-RISK EVENTS
§ 3851. Definitions
As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.
 
1.  Active shooter.     "Active shooter" means a person who participates in a random or systematic shooting spree demonstrating intent to continuously harm or kill others.
 
2.  Barricaded.     "Barricaded" has the same meaning as in section 3801, subsection 3.
 
3.  Board.     "Board" means the Board of Trustees of the Maine Criminal Justice Academy.
 
4.  Committee.     "Committee" means the Committee on Tactical Force Administration established in section 3853.
 
5.  Crisis negotiator.     "Crisis negotiator" means a law enforcement officer who is specially trained to negotiate with a person in crisis.
 
6.  Critical incident data.     "Critical incident data" means data involving tactical team deployments including the high-risk events and incidents involving suicide whether threatened or attempted.
 
7.  Director.     "Director" means the Director of the Maine Criminal Justice Academy.
 
8.  High-risk event.     "High-risk event" means a situation involving the service of a high-risk warrant, an active shooter, a barricaded subject or a hostage.
 
9.  Person in crisis.     "Person in crisis" means a person suffering from emotional, psychological or mental distress to the extent that the person's behavior may become irrational.
 
10.  Service of a high-risk warrant.     "Service of a high-risk warrant" means the serving of a search or arrest warrant in which there is an increased risk of bodily harm or death.
 
11.  Tactical team.     "Tactical team" means a specialized law enforcement response unit designed to mitigate high-risk events so as to preserve the lives and safety of citizens and law enforcement officers.
§ 3852. Tactical teams; crisis negotiator
 
1.  Team certification.     The board shall certify tactical teams that meet the requirements established by the board under section 2803-A, subsection 8-E. Each tactical team must include at least one crisis negotiator certified under subsection 2 as a member of that team.
 
2.  Crisis negotiator; training.     The board shall certify law enforcement officers who meet the training requirements for crisis negotiators under section 2803-A, subsection 8-D.
 
3.  Periodic training.     A crisis negotiator must undergo annual refresher training to be completed in conjunction with tactical team training.
§ 3853. Committee on Tactical Force Administration
 
1.  Committee established; chair.     The director shall establish the Committee on Tactical Force Administration, referred to in this section as "the committee," to develop a critical incident data reporting and review system concerning deployments of tactical teams. The director shall appoint the members of the committee.
 
2.  Members.     The committee consists of at least the following members:
 
A.  The director, who shall serve as the chair of the committee;
 
B.  A representative of a statewide organization of chiefs of police;
 
C.  A representative of a statewide organization of sheriffs;
 
D.  A representative of the Maine State Police;
 
E.  A representative of the Office of the Attorney General; and
 
F.  Two members representing civil liberties interests and mental health interests.
 
The Senate and House chairs of the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over public safety matters or their designees serve as advisors to the committee. Members are appointed for 2-year terms and may be reappointed. When a vacancy occurs prior to expiration of a term, the appointment to fill that vacancy is for the balance of the unexpired term.
 
3.  Review; recommendations.     The committee shall review on a semiannual basis critical incident data outlining tactical team response to high-risk events for purposes of evaluating existing policies. The committee shall make on a semiannual basis recommendations for training and performance standards to the board.
 
4.  Report.     Beginning January 15, 2012 and annually thereafter, the director shall submit a report on the activities and recommendations of the committee to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over public safety matters.
Sec. 4. Rules. The Board of Trustees of the Maine Criminal Justice Academy shall adopt rules to implement this Act. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defined in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
 
SUMMARY
This bill requires the establishment of the Committee on Tactical Force Administration to review and make recommendations on tactical law enforcement incidents. The bill requires the Board of Trustees of the Maine Criminal Justice Academy to adopt certification standards and training programs for crisis negotiators and tactical teams.