MONTPELIER, Vt. -
Taser use has been a hot topic across Vermont since a man was hit with one and died last year.
On Tuesday, some lawmakers presented a bill that changes how police use the weapon.
"I'm very pleased that there are 30 co-sponsors all together," said State Rep. Anne Donahue.
Here's what it means if it passes:
All officers would have to go through the same taser training.
It forces police to drop the term "non-lethal" when describing the weapon.
And it requires annual reports to lawmakers about the weapon.
The bill stems from an incident in Thetford eight months ago in which a trooper used a taser on Macadam Mason after hours of him not cooperating.
His autopsy showed he died from that strike and recently the attorney general ruled the trooper did nothing wrong.
"Do you believe had this bill been in place Macadam Mason would be alive today?" asked FOX44/ABC22.
"If the bill passes and people follow what the bill calls for, then very clearly the next situation similar to this would unfold very differently," said State Rep. James Masland.
We spoke with the public safety commissioner at the statehouse Tuesday and asked him what he thought about his department running a statewide training program from tasers.
He says he hasn't read the bill and doesn't want to make a comment.
Police say they use a taser to not only protect themselves, but suspects as well, because the alternative might be a gun.
The bill currently sits in the house committee on government relations.
If passed, the law would go into effect this summer.
