Sec. 3. 25 MRSA §2804-E, sub-§2, as amended by PL 1993, c. 744, §7, is further amended to read:

2. Role of board. The board shall establish in-service recertification training requirements, consistent with subsection 1, coordinate delivery of in-service training with postsecondary schools and other institutions and law enforcement agencies and administer in-service training programs. The in-service recertification training requirements must include information on new laws and court decisions and on new enforcement practices demonstrated to reduce crime or increase officer safety and must include a segment aimed specifically at reducing barriers to reporting crimes against people who are homeless and dealing with the unique challenges posed by cases that involve victims or witnesses who are homeless. The board shall consider and encourage the use of telecommunications technology in the development and delivery of in-service training programs. In establishing the recertification training requirements, the board shall cooperate with the state and local departments and agencies to which the in-service requirements apply to ensure that the standards are appropriate. In-service training may not be applied to satisfy in-service recertification training requirements unless it is approved by the board.

Sec. 4. Relationship between law enforcement agencies and homeless; designation of liaison. The Commissioner of Public Safety and the Attorney General shall review the relationship between law enforcement agencies and people who are homeless and shall explore methods of encouraging law enforcement agencies in communities with significant homeless populations or that have homeless shelters within their areas of jurisdiction to take concrete and meaningful steps to improve relations with people who are homeless and their advocates. As part of their review, the commissioner and the Attorney General shall consider ways to:

1. Facilitate the designation by each law enforcement agency of at least one officer to serve as a liaison between the law enforcement agency and the homeless community served by that agency; and