Sen. Akasha Lawrence Spence

Requires Health Information Technology Oversight Council to convene one or more groups of stakeholders and experts to explore options to accelerate, support and improve secure, statewide community information exchanges. Requires council to provide to interim committees of Legislative Assembly related to health and to human services draft report no later than September 15, 2022, and final report no later than January 31, 2023, on findings of stakeholder and expert groups and recommendations for legislative changes, if needed, to implement statewide health information and community information exchanges. Sunsets February 28, 2023. Declares emergency, effective on passage.

Provides that peace officer or corrections officer may not use force that impedes normal breathing or circulation of blood of another person by applying pressure on throat or neck except in specified circumstances. Modifies justification defenses available to peace officer who uses physical force or deadly physical force upon another person. Requires peace officer to give verbal warning, and reasonable opportunity to comply, before using physical force or deadly physical force if reasonable opportunity to do so exists. Requires peace officer to consider alternatives to physical force or deadly physical force if reasonable opportunity to do so exists. Declares emergency, effective on passage.

Directs Department of Public Safety Standards and Training to adopt rules requiring police officer to intervene to stop another police officer from engaging in act that is unethical or that violates law, rules or policy. Directs department to adopt rules requiring police officer to report to appropriate authority when any police officer engages in act that is unethical or that violates law, rules or policy. ] Requires police officer or reserve officer to intervene to prevent or stop another officer engaged in certain misconduct, unless intervening officer cannot intervene safely. Requires police officer or reserve officer who witnesses another officer engaged in certain misconduct to report misconduct to supervisor within 72 hours after witnessing misconduct. Prohibits discrimination or retaliation against officer who intervenes or reports as required. Directs Department of Public Safety Standards and Training to report annually to appropriate committee of Legislative Assembly on rules adopted by department to implement requirements. Declares emergency, effective on passage.

Provides that peace officer may not use force that limits ability of person to breathe, including but not limited to choke holds ] impedes normal breathing or circulation of blood of another person by applying pressure on throat or neck, unless peace officer may use deadly physical force . Directs Board on Public Safety Standards and Training to adopt rules prohibiting training of police officers and reserve officers to use force that impedes normal breathing or circulation of blood of another person by applying pressure on throat or neck, except as defensive maneuver. Declares emergency, effective on passage.

Repeals driving privilege suspension and eliminates imposition of driving privilege restrictions for failure to pay fine. Becomes operative October 1, 2020. Authorizes Department of Transportation to take certain actions before operative date of Act. Declares emergency, effective on passage.

Directs Department of Public Safety Standards and Training to establish statewide database of police officer discipline records. Directs department to publish online information about disciplinary proceedings against police officers. ] Directs Department of Public Safety Standards and Training to establish public statewide online database of suspensions and revocations of certifications of police officers. Directs department to submit annual report to appropriate committee of Legislative Assembly on complaints against police officers ] database . Requires law enforcement agency, before extending offer of employment to police officer applicant, to request and review personnel records of applicant from law enforcement agencies that previously employed applicant. Requires law enforcement agencies to maintain and share personnel records. Limits liability of agency that complies with requirements. Requires department to deny application for training or deny, suspend or revoke certification of police officer based upon certain findings. Declares emergency, effective on passage.

Requires law enforcement agency to notify Attorney General when police officer uses physical force resulting in death or qualifying physical injury. Requires Attorney General to appoint special investigator to lead investigation upon receipt of notification. Directs Attorney General to prosecute violations of law related to use of physical force. Directs Attorney General to release reports from investigation if criminal proceedings are not initiated. ] Establishes Joint Committee on Transparent Policing and Use of Force Reform. Directs committee to examine policies related to use of force and transparency in policing and recommend legislation to committees of Legislative Assembly related to judiciary on or before December 31, 2020. Sunsets committee on December 31, 2020. Declares emergency, effective on passage.

Prohibits law enforcement agencies from using tear gas or from using long range acoustic devices or sound cannons. ] for purposes of crowd control except in circumstances constituting riot. Requires law enforcement agency to follow certain procedure when using tear gas in circumstances constituting riot. Declares emergency, effective on passage.

Establishes temporary limitations on lenders being able to enforce default remedies on obligations secured by mortgages, trust deeds, land sale contracts or other instruments. Provides for certain exemptions. Requires lenders to defer payments if lender and borrower do not otherwise agree on loan mitigation, deferral or other foreclosure avoidance measure and permits borrower to pay deferred amounts at end of loan term. Provides that lender may adjust escrow impound payment and take into account deficiencies or shortages that result from deferring borrower's payments. Requires borrower to provide notice to lenders if borrower cannot make periodic installment payment. Specifies notice requirements for residential and commercial borrowers. Prohibits lenders from collecting various fees, penalties and charges during emergency period and from undertaking specified practices. Requires courts to dismiss foreclosure proceedings brought during emergency period without prejudice. Permits borrower that suffers ascertainable loss of money or property because lender took prohibited action to bring action for actual damages. Requires lender to provide written notice to borrower of borrower's rights for accommodation under Act. Declares emergency, effective on passage.

Makes unlawful practice for place of public accommodation to refuse to accept United States coins or currency as payment for goods and services. Creates limited exceptions. Allows person to file complaint with Commissioner of Bureau of Labor and Industries alleging unlawful practice against operator or person acting on behalf of place of public accommodation. Becomes operative on July 1, 2021. Allows person to bring civil action alleging unlawful practice against operator or person acting on behalf of place of public accommodation. Becomes operative on January 1, 2022. ] Limits authority of school district to become member of voluntary organization that administers interscholastic activities unless organization implements policy that prohibits discrimination based on race, color or national origin. Clarifies meaning of race to include natural hair, hair texture, hair type and protective hairstyles for purposes of prohibited discrimination under antidiscrimination statutes. Clarifies that valid dress code or policy may not have disproportionate adverse impact on members of protected class.