Rep. Steven Roberts Jr. of St. Louis Introduces House Bill 1996

Rep. Steven Roberts Jr. of St. Louis is the State Representative for Missouri’s 77th District. In the most recent legislative session, he introduced House Bill 1996, legislation that would require a racial and gender bias training component of peace officer basic training to include specific instruction on racial or identity profiling, as defined in the bill.

Additionally, the bill specifies that training curriculum examine evidence-based patterns, practices, and protocols that make up racial or identity profiling, including implicit bias. The training would prescribe evidence-based patterns, practices, and protocols that prevent racial or identity profiling.

In developing the training, the Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) commission would consult with the Racial and Identity Profiling Advisory Board -established by this bill - whose purpose would be to eliminate racial and identity profiling and improve diversity and racial sensitivity in law enforcement.

"Missouri is a state that continues to struggle with race and discrimination,” states Rep. Steven Roberts Jr. “Racial bias training in the Missouri Legislature will provide an example of what needs to be implemented throughout our state and all institutions. Law enforcement needs racial bias training in order to respectfully protect and serve the districts they patrol."