SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6510

BYSenators Barr, Owen and Pullen

Amending a provision regarding law enforcement personnel training.

Senate Committee on Law & Justice

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 2, 1988

Senate Staff:Dick Armstrong (786-7460)

AS OF FEBRUARY 1, 1988

BACKGROUND:

Existing law requires newly-hired law enforcement personnel to receive basic law enforcement training which complies with standards adopted by the Criminal Justice Training Commission.  The training must be received within 15 months of employment, unless waived or extended by the commission.

The statute creates a hardship on small towns which can afford only to hire parttime law enforcement personnel.  After a town has incurred the expenses of paying the salary and mileage for an officer to receive basic training, the officer often accepts a fulltime position with another law enforcement agency.  This forces the town to again incur significant expenses for the training of another parttime officer.

The Criminal Training Justice Commission has adopted a rule which applies the statute to only fulltime law enforcement personnel, but there is a legal question if the rule is in conflict with the statute.

SUMMARY:

Only fulltime commissioned law enforcement personnel are required to receive basic law enforcement training which complies with standards established by the Criminal Justice Training Commission.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      requested February 1, 1988