H.R. 8639: Critical Operation Oversight of Law Enforcement Intervention and Training Act

This bill is known as the Critical Operation Oversight of Law Enforcement Intervention and Training Act, or the COOL IT Act. It aims to establish a scenario-based training curriculum for immigration officers, focusing on various important aspects of their duties.

Key Provisions of the Bill

1. Development of Training Curriculum

The bill mandates that, within 90 days of being enacted, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in collaboration with the Director of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers, must create a scenario-based training curriculum that all immigration officers need to complete annually. This curriculum will cover a range of topics, including:

• Improving community-police relations
• Officer safety
• Officer resilience
• Situational awareness
• Physical and emotional responses to stress
• Critical decision making and problem solving
• De-escalation techniques
• Use of force and deadly force
• Crisis intervention

2. Collaboration with Other Organizations

As part of developing the curriculum, the Secretary of Homeland Security must consult with relevant law enforcement associations, community organizations, and defense and national security agencies. This will help in ensuring the curriculum is comprehensive and beneficial for the officers involved.

3. Certification Process

The bill also requires the development of a certification process for immigration officers who successfully complete the training curriculum. This helps ensure that only trained and certified individuals are performing tasks that involve immigration law enforcement.

4. Report to Congress

Within 180 days of the bill's enactment, the Secretary of Homeland Security is required to submit a report to Congress. This report will detail:

• The benefits and barriers to implementing the training curriculum for immigration officers
• Recommendations for improving access to scenario-based training for these officers

5. Definition of Immigration Officer

The bill clarifies the definition of an "immigration officer" as any employee designated to perform immigration officer functions under the Immigration and Nationality Act, including state officials performing such functions under specific sections of the Act.

6. Training Requirements for ICE Officers

Additionally, the bill mandates that immigration officers must complete at least 67 days of training before they can perform any duties to enforce immigration laws. This aims to enhance the preparedness and effectiveness of these officers.

Relevant Companies

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