HF 2278 (LSB 5860YH (2) 91)

HOUSE FILE 2278

BY  GEARHART

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to law enforcement training requirements for experienced reserve peace officers.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  80B.11I  Experienced reserve peace officers.
   1.  For purposes of this section:
   a.  “Border state law enforcement agency” means a law enforcement agency located in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, South Dakota, or Nebraska that maintains reserve peace officer training, certification, and oversight standards that are substantially equivalent to those required in this state, as determined by the council.
   b.  “Break in service” means a period exceeding six consecutive months during which a reserve peace officer is not actively appointed by any law enforcement agency. “Break in service” does not include approved leaves of absence, injury leave, military service, or transitions between agencies when the officer remains in good standing.
   c.  “Founded or sustained disciplinary action” means a final determination by an employing agency or certifying authority that a reserve peace officer committed a violation of law, policy, or professional standard warranting formal discipline.
   2.  A certified reserve peace officer may be eligible to attend a shortened or abbreviated law enforcement academy course established by the council pursuant to section 80B.11 if the officer meets all of the following requirements:
   a.  The officer has served as a reserve peace officer for a cumulative total of at least four years with one or more Iowa or border state law enforcement agencies, without a break in service during that period.
   b.  The officer has performed not less than four thousand cumulative hours of documented reserve law enforcement service with one or more Iowa or border state law enforcement agencies.
   c.  The officer has not been the subject of any founded or sustained disciplinary action, suspension, or termination for misconduct during the qualifying period described in paragraphs “a” and “b”.
   3.  Each law enforcement agency for which the reserve peace officer has served shall, upon request of the officer or the Iowa law enforcement academy, verify and certify the duration, continuity, number of hours, and disciplinary record of the officer’s service for purposes of determining eligibility under subsection 2.
   4.  The council may adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A to recognize reserve peace officer service performed for law enforcement agencies located in states other than those listed in subsection 1, paragraph “b”, if the council determines that such agencies maintain training, certification, and oversight standards substantially equivalent to those required in this state. Service recognized under this subsection shall be treated as service with a border state law enforcement agency for purposes of subsection 2.
   5.  The council shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A establishing the curriculum, standards, and procedures for the shortened or abbreviated academy course authorized by this section. The curriculum shall ensure that eligible reserve peace officers receive all training necessary to qualify for full peace officer certification while appropriately recognizing prior training and documented reserve service experience.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill relates to law enforcement training requirements for experienced reserve peace officers.
   The bill provides that a certified reserve peace officer may be eligible to attend a shortened or abbreviated law enforcement academy course established by the Iowa law enforcement academy council (council) pursuant to Code section 80B.11 if the officer: has served as a reserve peace officer for a cumulative total of at least four years with one or more Iowa or border state law enforcement agencies, without a break in service exceeding six consecutive months during that period; has performed not less than 4,000 cumulative hours of documented reserve law enforcement service with one or more Iowa or border state law enforcement agencies; and has not been the subject of any founded or sustained disciplinary action, suspension, or termination for misconduct during the qualifying periods.
   The bill provides that a law enforcement agency for which the reserve peace officer has served shall verify and certify the duration, continuity, number of hours, and disciplinary record of the officer’s service.
   The council may adopt rules to recognize reserve peace officer service performed for law enforcement agencies located in states other than border states if the council determines that such agencies maintain training, certification, and oversight standards substantially equivalent to those required in Iowa. The council shall adopt rules establishing the curriculum, standards, and procedures for the shortened or abbreviated academy course.