Bill No.: SF0064                  Drafter:  JHR

 

LSO No.:  05LSO-0305              Effective Date:  7/1/2005

 

Enrolled Act No.:  SEA0085

 

Chapter No.:       176

 

Prime Sponsor:     Senator Meier

 

Catch Title:       P.O.S.T. certification for correctional officers.

 

Subject:  Provides for the training and certification of corrections officers.

 

Summary/Major Elements:

·      This Bill:

·      Creates a training and certification program for corrections officers;

·      Requires an employing agency to provide notice to the Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST)  Commission when a corrections officer dies, resigns or is terminated;

·      Prohibits a state agency or other person authorized to appoint a corrections officer from appointing a person as a corrections officer:

·   On or after July 1, 2005, who does not meet the requirements specified in W.S. 9-1-710, created by this act;

·   On or after July 1, 2006, unless within 1 year from the date of his original appointment he is awarded a certificate by the POST director, attesting that he has completed a commission approved correctional officer's basic training program, except an extension not to exceed 180 days may be allowed pursuant to written request by the corrections officer and his employer;

·      Specifies that a part-time corrections officer appointed on or after July 1, 2005, shall forfeit his position unless within 2 years he is awarded a certificate attesting that he has completed a commission approved correctional officer's basic training program;

·      Authorizes the Commission to waive, at the request of the employing agency, the training program for applicants who can successfully complete the written test and oral interview;

·      Specifies that a correctional officer may be paid wages as a correctional officer and receive reimbursement for training expenses while in a Commission approved training program;

·      Provides that a correctional officer convicted of a felony after his appointment is ineligible to continue as an officer;

·      Provides that any person who has worked as a corrections officer for 5 consecutive years on July 1, 2006, shall be certified without complying with the qualifications for becoming a corrections officer;

·      Authorizes the Department of Corrections to establish hiring and training qualifications that are more stringent than the Commission's qualifications;

·      Provides definitions for "correctional officer", "certified correctional officer", "correctional officer training" and "part-time correctional officer";

·      Authorizes the Commission to adopt rules for the correctional officer training program and for issuance, denial, renewal, suspension or revocation of correctional officer certification.

 

Comments:

· Creates/amends major program-creates a training and certification program for corrections officers