RESOLUTION NO. _______, SERIES 2021
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A RESOLUTION URGING THE KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO ENACT HOUSE BILL 21, THE STATEWIDE “BREONNA’S LAW.”
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SPONSORED BY: SPONSORSHIP WITHDRAWN
WHEREAS, on June 11, 2020 Metro Council enacted “Breonna’s Law” in response to Louisvillian Breonna Taylor’s tragic death on March 13, 2020 during the execution of a search warrant; and
WHEREAS, “Breonna’s Law” within the Louisville Metro Code of Ordinances prohibits officers within the Louisville Metro Police Department and the Louisville Metro Department of Corrections from executing no-knock warrants, requires that officers knock, announce, and wait a reasonable time for a response before entering a premises, mandates the use of body cameras by all officers present for the execution search warrants, and authorizes appropriate discipline of Metro employees for violations; and
WHEREAS, State Representative Attica Scott of the 41st Kentucky House District filed House Bill 21, a bill proposing a statewide “Breonna’s Law,” in the 2021 Regular Session of the Kentucky General Assembly; and
WHEREAS, House Bill 21 encompasses the provisions of Louisville’s Breonna’s Law, and also proposes to require all Kentucky peace officers to activate body-worn cameras before interactions with the public, to establish rebuttable presumptions in investigative or legal proceedings regarding unrecorded conduct, to release all audio and video evidence underlying complaints of police misconduct within forty-five days, to expand the scope of civil rights lawsuits against state and local governments while limiting defenses and immunities, and to mandate drug and alcohol testing for officers using deadly force; and
WHEREAS, the 2021 Legislative Session will end on or before March 30, 2021.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF THE LOUISVILLE/JEFFERSON COUNTY METRO GOVERNMENT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION I: The Louisville Metro Council encourages the Kentucky General Assembly to quickly move to enact House Bill 21.
SECTION II: A copy of this Resolution shall be sent to the Kentucky General Assembly.
SECTION III: This Resolution shall take effect upon its passage and approval.
_______________________________ _____________________________
Sonya Harward David James
Metro Council Clerk President of the Council
_______________________________ ___________________________
Greg Fischer Approval Date
Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY:
Michael J. O’Connell
Jefferson County Attorney
By: __________________________________
R-XXX-XX on HB 21 al