Joco Today

On May 19, 2023, during National Police Week, Representative Sharice Davids took official action to boost resources for local law enforcement departments, reduce gun violence in Kansas, and support individual officers. Davids' decision to support the public safety package comes after a discussion earlier this week with police chiefs and sheriffs from Kansas' Third District, who shared their opinions on the legislation.

The package of eight bills includes bipartisan legislation to improve care for officers coping with job-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), eliminate backlogs of untested DNA samples, and crack down and schedule xylazine, the highly dangerous sedative causing fatal overdoses nationwide. It also strengthens background check requirements for those handling firearms.

"Kansas law enforcement officers put their lives on the line to protect our communities, but are often working with limited budget and without the necessary equipment and training. Today, I'm working to fix that by supporting legislation that ensures our officers can do their jobs to the best of their ability," said Davids. "Whether it's National Police Week or any other week, I'll continue supporting Kansas law enforcement so folks in Kansas can feel safe and secure in their community."

Watch Rep. Sharice Davids speak during National Police Week here.

Davids is supporting a package of public safety legislation that would:

Boost Resources for Local Law Enforcement

1. Debbie Smith Act of 2023

  Reauthorizes the Debbie Smith DNA Backlog Grant Program that helps local and state crime labs eliminate backlogs of untested DNA samples.

2. Combating Illicit Xylazine Act

  Prohibits the illicit use and distribution of the drug xylazine, which is commonly combined with fentanyl and has been found in a growing number of      overdose deaths.

3. EAGLE Act

  Directs the Attorney General to establish a grant program to provide for the qualified accreditation and re-certification of local law enforcement agencies.

Reduce Gun Violence

1. Enhanced Background Checks Act of 2023

Strengthens background check procedures before a Federal firearms licensee may transfer a firearm to a person who is not such a licensee.

2. Extreme Risk Protection Order Expansion Act of 2023

Helps state and local law enforcement implement critical intervention policies in extreme risk situations where individuals pose a threat to themselves or others.

3. EAGLES Act of 2023

      Expands the Department of Homeland Security's National Threat Assessment Center to better identify and interdict potential perpetrators of mass                   shootings.

Support Individual Law Enforcement Officers

1. Supporting Women COPS Act of 2023

     Establishes a Task Force on Women in Law Enforcement to study and develop national hiring standards for law enforcement officers.

2. Fighting Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Act of 2023

       Increases access to treatment or preventative care for public safety officers coping with job-related PTSD.

Since being sworn in, Davids has worked to provide Kansas law enforcement officers with the tools needed to keep communities safe. She secured funding for the Olathe Police Department's Mobile Command Unit and announced federal resources to hire additional law enforcement in Wyandotte County and improve mental health services in Overland Park. She previously voted for historic, bipartisan gun violence prevention legislation to keep Kansans safe and a bill giving officers access to disability benefits for job-related PTSD.

Davids, a member of the bipartisan Fentanyl Prevention Caucus, has also hosted multiplesummits with local, state, and federal law enforcement officials on combatting the growing threat of fentanyl, the number one cause of overdose death in the United States. In direct response to these conversations, Davids took legislativeaction to ensure Kansas law enforcement officers have the necessary tools to fight the fentanyl epidemic head-on.

Original source can be found here.