AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS' BILL OF RIGHTS

This bill updates Rhode Island's Law Enforcement Officers' Bill of Rights by renaming it the Law Enforcement Officers' Due Process, Accountability, and Transparency Act. It directly affects permanently employed police officers, state troopers, and other sworn law enforcement personnel, excluding department heads. The law establishes a five-member hearing committee to review complaints against officers and mandates that both the agency and the officer share the cost of legal counsel for these hearings. Additionally, the bill requires that investigations be conducted at reasonable hours, allows officers to have an attorney present during interrogations, and prohibits threatening officers with disciplinary action during the inquiry process.