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House Judiciary reviews revised S.208 to require officer identification, limit facial coverings amid operational and legal concerns
Summary
Legislative counsel walked the House Judiciary Committee through draft 1.1 of S.208, which would require clear identification of law enforcement and limit facial coverings while recognizing multiple exceptions; witnesses from the Fraternal Order of Police and the Vermont State Police urged a model policy approach and the Attorney General's office flagged potential federalism litigation.
Legislative counsel on Wednesday presented draft 1.1 of an amendment to S.208 that would require law enforcement officers to be clearly identified when interacting with the public and would prohibit officers from wearing facial coverings except in enumerated circumstances.
Sophie Sedatny of the Office of Legislative Counsel told the House Judiciary Committee the draft incorporates many changes suggested by the Department of Public Safety (DPS) and reorganizes the statute to add a new definition of "facial covering," listing examples such as balaclavas and ski masks. Sedatny said the draft also adds a verbal-disclosure provision requiring an officer to state the officer's name and the official name of the officer's agency when detaining or arresting an individual; she said that verbal-disclosure language did not come from DPS but from other states' laws.
The committee heard that the draft retains multiple exceptions. Sedatny said respirators and medical-grade masks intended to prevent airborne disease…
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