May 13, 2025
Mrs. Sykes (for herself, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mr. Bacon, and Mr. Ivey) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
To develop a scenario-based training curriculum for law enforcement personnel, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Law Enforcement Scenario-Based Training for Safety and De-Escalation Act of 2025
.
Sec. 2. Law enforcement scenario-based training curriculum
(a) In general
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Attorney General, acting through the Director of the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, shall develop a scenario-based training curriculum for use in accordance with the grant program under section 3.
(b) Curriculum
In developing the curriculum under subsection (a), the Attorney General shall—
(1)
develop a scenario-based training curriculum that addresses—
(A)
improving community-police relations;
(B)
officer safety;
(C)
officer resilience;
(D)
situational awareness;
(E)
physical and emotional responses to stress;
(F)
critical decision making and problem solving;
(G)
de-escalation;
(H)
use of force and deadly force; and
(I)
crisis intervention;
(2)
consult with relevant professional law enforcement associations, community-based organizations, and defense and national security agencies in the development and dissemination of the curriculum;
(3)
provide expertise and technical assistance to entities seeking to implement the curriculum;
(4)
evaluate best practices of scenario-based training methods and curriculum content to maintain state-of-the-art expertise in scenario-based learning methodology; and
(5)
develop a certification process for entities that have successfully implemented the curriculum.
Sec. 3. Law enforcement scenario-based training grant program
(a) In general
Beginning on the date that is 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Attorney General, acting through the Director of the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, shall be authorized to make grants to States, units of local government, Indian Tribal governments, other public and private entities, and multi-jurisdictional or regional consortia to provide law enforcement personnel with access to a scenario-based training curriculum that is substantially similar to the curriculum developed under section 2.
(b) Application
An applicant seeking a grant under this section shall submit to the Attorney General an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Attorney General may reasonably require.
(c) Reports
(1) Grantee reports
On the date that is 1 year after receiving a grant under this section, each grant recipient shall submit to the Attorney General a report on—
(A)
any benefits of, and barriers to, delivering the curriculum to law enforcement personnel; and
(B)
recommendations for improving the access of law enforcement personnel to scenario-based training.
(2) Office of Community Oriented Policing Services reports
Not later than 1 year after initially awarding grants under this section, and annually thereafter, the Attorney General, acting through the Director of the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, shall submit to Congress a report on—
(A)
the number of entities that received grants under this section;
(B)
the cumulative number and proportion of law enforcement personnel in each State that received training under the scenario-based training curriculum described in section 2, or a curriculum that is substantially similar to that curriculum;
(C)
any benefits of, and barriers to, delivering such curriculum to law enforcement personnel;
(D)
recommendations for improving the curriculum developed under section 2; and
(E)
recommendations for improving the grant program under this section.
(d) Funding
No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act. The Attorney General shall carry out this Act using unobligated amounts that are otherwise made available to the Department of Justice.
Sec. 4. Definitions
In this Act:
(1) Community-based organizations
The term community-based organization means a grassroots organization that—
(A)
works in communities to improve police accountability and transparency; and
(B)
has a national presence and membership.
(2) Professional law enforcement association
The term professional law enforcement association means a law enforcement membership association that works for the needs of Federal, State, local, or Indian Tribal law enforcement groups and with the civilian community on matters of common interest.
(3) Scenario-based training
The term scenario-based training means the use of live-action simulations and role playing to place law enforcement personnel in an interactive learning environment to replicate real-life scenarios or teach particular skills or techniques.
(4) State
The term State means any State of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and any possession of the United States.