SB 590 - This act creates the "Task Force on the Use of Conducted Energy Devices". The commission shall have ten members appointed by the governor, with the advice and consent of the senate: two medical experts, two scientific experts, two legal experts, two law enforcement experts, and two private citizens who have been shot by a CED or whose family member has been shot by a CED. The task force is designed to evaluate the safety of conducted energy devices (CEDs), commonly known as tasers, and to make recommendation regarding their use by law enforcement. The task force shall hold public hearings and study all aspects of CED use in this state.
It shall determine if there are adequate studies on the use and effects of CEDs representing independent perspectives, and if other research is needed on issues such as how frequently CEDs are used, the effects of CED use on human health, typical operation of CEDs by law enforcement, possible circumstances when CED use should be limited, sufficiency of law enforcement training, and other issues of interest to the task force.
The task force shall report to its findings and recommendations to the Governor, Attorney General, and legislature by January 1, 2012. It shall make recommendations to amend the statutes which assure: 1) that CED use is banned, if necessary, because of safety or abuse concerns; 2) a suspension of CED use, if necessary, until scientific research adequately determines CED safety; or 3) there is sufficient research and an ability to set policy on CED use ensuring certain safety and abuse prevention requirements.
Until the task force report is completed and its recommendations are passed and signed into law, CED use shall be suspended in this state, except by law enforcement agencies which adopt certain policies outlined in the act.
This act is identical to SB 328 (2009).
SUSAN HENDERSON MOORE