HOUSE BILL ANALYSIS
HB 1981
Title: An act relating to law enforcement officer training by the criminal justice training commission.
Brief Description: Expanding mandatory police training hours and creating a mobile training facility for police training.
Sponsors: Representatives O'Brien, Ballasiotes, Kenney, Conway and Lovick.
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND CORRECTIONS
Staff: Yvonne Walker (786-7841).
Background:
The Criminal Justice Training Commission was established in 1974 for the primary purpose of providing basic law enforcement training, corrections training, and educational programs for criminal justice personnel, including commissioned officers, corrections officers, fire marshals, and prosecuting attorneys.
Training. Basic law enforcement officer training is generally required of all full-time commissioned law enforcement employees of the state. The training consists of a 440-hour program covering a wide variety of subjects, including constitutional and criminal law and procedures, criminal investigation, firearms training, and communication and writing skills. The law enforcement training is available only to persons employed as commissioned law enforcement officers and must be commenced within the first six months of employment of each law enforcement officer unless the employee receives a waiver from the commission. All other position-related training must be completed within one year after the core training.
Summary:
Training. By January 1, 2000, the Criminal Justice Training Commission is required to increase the 440-hour basic training program to a minimum of 720 hours. In addition, the commission must offer in-service training to law enforcement officers through operation of a mobile training facility. Funding for the expanded training and the mobile training facility will be provided to the Criminal Justice Training Commission from the public safety and education account.