HB 1442

This bill enacts the "Stop American Gestapo Act (SAGA), "" which creates a Class C misdemeanor for an officer of a local, state, or federal law enforcement agency, or a person acting on behalf of a local, state, or federal law enforcement agency ("" law enforcement officer "") who wear s a mask, face covering, or personal disguise while interacting with the public in the performance of the law enforcement officer's official duties. However, such an officer is not subject to the above offense while interacting with the public in the performance of the officer's official duties if the officer wear s a mask or face covering that (i) m eets the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health N95 classification for the purpose of preventing the transmission of airborne diseases, or (ii) i s designed to protect against exposure to smoke or other airborne particles during a state of emergency related to a natural disaster . Addition ally, s pecial weapons and tactics (SWAT) team officers may utilize gear necessary to protect the officers' faces from physical harm while in the performance of SWAT responsibilities. This bill also creates a Class C misdemeanor for a law enforcement officer to interact with the public in the performance of the officer's official duties without clearly displaying the officer's name or badge number on the officer's uniform or other clothing in a manner that is visible to the public."