Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

Legislative Analysis
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BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU AND GRAPPLING TRAINING
                                                                                  http://www.house.mi.gov/hfa
FOR CERTAIN MCOLES-CERTIFIED OFFICERS
                                                                                  Analysis available at
House Bill 4525 as introduced                                                     http://www.legislature.mi.gov
Sponsor: Rep. Ryan Berman
Committee: Military, Veterans and Homeland Security
Complete to 6-7-21
SUMMARY:
        House Bill 4525 would amend the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards
        (MCOLES) Act to require grappling training and Brazilian jiu-jitsu certification for certain
        individuals licensed under the act.
        Specifically, the bill would amend section 9e of the act to add additional training requirements
        for individuals licensed or seeking licensure under section 9, 9b, 9c, or 9d. Section 9 applies to
        all law enforcement officers, except those subject to section 9a (sheriffs), section 9b (tribal law
        enforcement officers), section 9c (fire arson investigators who meet certain criteria), and
        section 9d (private college security officers who meet certain criteria).
        Beginning January 1, 2023, the bill would require individuals seeking licensure under section
        9, 9b, 9c, or 9d to either have the rank of blue belt or higher in Brazilian jiu-jitsu from a certified
        instructor or have a certificate of equivalent training. An individual who is already licensed
        under those sections on January 1, 2023, would have to obtain the same certifications no later
        than January 1, 2025.
        Additionally, beginning January 1, 2025, a law enforcement officer would have to complete at
        least four hours of grappling training each year.
                Certified instructor would mean an individual who has one or more of the following:
                • The rank of black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
                • Certification as an instructor from the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation
                   or an equivalent organization, as determined by MCOLES.
                • At least 20 years of experience as a grappling instructor.
                Certificate of equivalent training would mean a document signed by a certified
                instructor that signifies that the named individual has received significant unarmed
                combat grappling training, including any of the following:
                • Two years of high school varsity wrestling experience or five years of other
                    wrestling experience.
                • Two or more mixed martial arts fights as a licensed professional mixed martial arts
                    fighter.
                • The rank of brown belt in judo.
                Grappling training would mean training in hand-to-hand combat that is used at close
                range to gain a physical advantage over an opponent.
        MCL 28.609e
House Fiscal Agency                                                                                 Page 1 of 2
FISCAL IMPACT:
        House Bill 4525 would have indeterminate but significant cost implications for the Department
        of State Police (MSP), other police agencies, and police officers. The most significant costs
        associated with the bill would be the direct costs for the training, which would be incurred by
        officers and police agencies. Liability for the training costs would depend on a variety of factors
        and would need to be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Whether the training would necessitate
        overtime pay for officers is also indeterminate, but could significantly affect the cost estimate
        for the training. MSP also indicated that an increase in injuries and workers’ compensation
        costs could result from the bill.
        Preliminary estimates for costs likely to be incurred by MCOLES include expenditures for two
        FTE positions, one to certify instructors and monitor instruction and another to monitor
        reporting and tracking of certification and continuing education compliance. MSP currently
        estimates that annual costs for these positions would total $300,000. The department also
        anticipates that $100,000 would be required for information technology upgrades to the
        MCOLES Information and Tracking Network (MITN), so that the system could be used for
        reporting related to the training required under the bill.
                                                            Legislative Analyst: Emily S. Smith
                                                                 Fiscal Analyst: Marcus Coffin
■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House Fiscal Agency staff for use by House members in their
deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.
House Fiscal Agency                                                     HB 4525 as introduced   Page 2 of 2
Statutes affected: 
House Introduced Bill: 28.609