HB 461: Jennifer's Law

This bill, known as "Jennifer's Law," prohibits state and local agencies that employ peace officers or parking enforcement employees from establishing policies that require these individuals to meet an "arrest quota," which is defined as a set number or proportion of arrests or citations that must be issued. Furthermore, the law prevents agencies from using the sheer number of arrests or citations issued by an officer or employee as the *only* factor in determining promotions, demotions, dismissals, or any other benefits, though these numbers can be considered as part of a broader performance evaluation that includes other factors like attendance, work safety, and professional judgment. A "peace officer" is defined as a sworn individual whose primary duty is to enforce laws and prevent crime, and a "citation" refers to a notice of violation or appearance. This legislation aims to ensure that law enforcement's focus remains on public safety and crime prevention rather than on meeting numerical targets for issuing tickets or making arrests.