Amends the comprehensive community-police relationship act of 2015 to require an annual study by an outside agency chosen by the department.

Plain-English Summary

This bill proposes a change to a Rhode Island law from 2015 that was designed to improve relationships between police departments and the communities they serve. Specifically, the bill would require that an outside, independent agency — selected by the department — conduct an annual study related to the law's goals and outcomes. This adds a layer of external review that doesn't currently exist in the original 2015 law.

The main effect of this bill is to bring in a third party to regularly examine how well the law is working. Rather than relying solely on self-reporting from police departments or state agencies, an outside organization would take on the responsibility of evaluating the data and results each year. The department would have the authority to choose which outside agency conducts the study.

This bill would primarily affect Rhode Island police departments, state government agencies, and residents who interact with local law enforcement. For community members, it could mean more independent and transparent reporting on policing practices. For law enforcement agencies, it would mean being subject to annual outside review. The bill has been introduced and sent to the Senate Judiciary Committee, where it will be debated before any further action is taken.