The Senate Law and Justice Committee is continuing to work on potential changes to the law on the use of deadly force by law enforcement officers. A recently proposed striking amendment would change SB 5073 by:
- Removing the intent section;
- Requiring the following when a prosecutor considers a good faith defense: the training and experience of the officer; the equipment and resources available to the officer; and, whether, relying on the facts and circumstances known by the officer at the time of the incident, the use of force was objectively reasonable;
- Creates a stronger charge against an offender illegally possessing a firearm if they’ve been previously convicted of assault of a law enforcement officer;
- Removes multiple funding null and void clauses; and
- Removes the backfill funding for replacement officers.
We will continue to monitor the progress of this bill.