Law enforcement: training; mental health and law enforcement response training; require for law enforcement officers. Amends title of 1965 PA 203 (MCL 28.601 - 28.615) & adds secs. 9f & 9g. TIE BAR WITH: SB 341'25
SB 334 would amend Michigan’s Commission on Law Enforcement Standards Act to require new and existing licensed law enforcement officers to complete training standards focused on de-escalation, implicit bias, procedural justice, behavioral health, and crisis intervention. Beginning July 1, 2026, new applicants for licensure would have to complete the training, and officers already licensed as of that date would need to complete it by July 1, 2027 if they had not already done so. The bill also directs the commission to research training gaps, develop or adapt curriculum standards, and promulgate rules to implement and enforce the new requirements.
The bill further requires every law enforcement agency in the state to adopt a written policy within six months of the act’s effective date stating that officers must use de-escalation techniques to the extent reasonable and safe. The commission must also publish a model policy that agencies may adopt to satisfy this requirement. In addition, the bill establishes continuing education requirements: at least 12 hours between July 1, 2027 and July 1, 2028, and at least 24 hours every two years thereafter, all in the listed subject areas. The bill is tie-barred to SB 341, meaning it would not take effect unless that related bill is enacted.
SB 334 would expand the statutory duties of the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and impose new statewide training, policy, and continuing education obligations on law enforcement officers and agencies. It would affect licensure standards under MCL 28.601 to 28.615 by conditioning certification and continued licensure on completion of specified instruction, and it would authorize administrative rules and license sanctions, including possible revocation, for noncompliance. The bill would also require agencies to adopt de-escalation policies and allow use of a commission-issued model policy.
The available voting history suggests the bill was generally supported in committee, as it was reported favorably by a 5-1 vote with substitute S-1. The bill’s structure and subject matter indicate a policy emphasis on officer training, crisis response, and behavioral health awareness, which are typically framed as public-safety and professionalism measures. No committee transcript is available here, so the record does not show detailed debate, but the favorable report suggests majority support for the proposal.
The main points of potential contention are the mandatory nature of the training and policy requirements, the possibility of license sanctions up to revocation for refusal to comply, and the bill’s focus on implicit bias and procedural justice training, which can be politically sensitive. Some may view the bill as an important accountability and de-escalation measure, while others may see it as imposing additional mandates on local agencies and officers or as directing law enforcement practice through state standards. The tie-bar to SB 341 also means the bill’s effect depends on enactment of related legislation, which can be a procedural point of concern.