This bill makes procedural improvements for grand juries investigating police use of deadly force.  Currently officers may attend the entire proceedings, provide statements, and rebuttals.  Under the new procedure a court reporter is required to take down the entire proceeding and the officer may provide a statement to the grand jury, but will not be allowed to attend the entire proceeding.

 

This legislation also provides for a 20 day notice to the officer of the proceeding, but eliminates a notice requirement to elected officials of a grand jury proceeding regarding alleged unprofessional conduct.

 

This legislation also removes a population threshold for special grand juries. Under current law, in counties with a population of 70,000 or more, any county elected official and any city elected official may request that the superior court judges convene a special grand jury to investigate any violation of state law or any other matter subject to investigation by grand juries.  HB 941 removes the 70,000 population threshold, making it apply to all counties.