Pennsylvania Act 2015-25 — JUDICIAL CODE (42 PA.C.S) AND MUNICIPLATITES CODE (53 PA.C.S.) - CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS, POWERS AND DUTIES OF MUNICIPAL POLICE OFFICERS' EDUCATION AND TRAINING COMMISSION

Act text

Session of 2015

No. 2015-25

HB 221

AN ACT

Amending Titles 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) and 53 (Municipalities Generally) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in selection and retention of judicial officers, further providing for continuing education requirement; and, in municipal police education and training, further providing for powers and duties of Municipal Police Officers' Education and Training Commission.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1. Section 3118(a) of Title 42 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes is amended to read:

§ 3118. Continuing education requirement.

(a) Magisterial district judges.--

(1) Every magisterial district judge shall complete a continuing education program each year equivalent to not less than 32 hours per year in such courses or programs as are approved by the board. At least every six years, the program shall include the identification of mental illness , intellectual disabilities and autism and the availability of diversionary options for individuals with mental illness , intellectual disabilities or autism .

(2) If a magisterial district judge fails to meet these continuing education requirements, such judge shall be subject to suspension by the Supreme Court until such time as evidence of compliance with such requirements is submitted by the board, but in no event longer than six months at which time the failure to meet the continuing education requirements shall be grounds for the Supreme Court, after a hearing, to declare a vacancy in that district.

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Section 2. Section 2164 of Title 53 is amended by adding a paragraph to read:

§ 2164. Powers and duties of commission.

The powers and duties of the commission shall be as follows:

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(1.1) To provide training for police officers with respect to:

(i) Recognition of mental illness, intellectual disabilities and autism.

(ii) Proper techniques to interact with and de-escalate individuals engaging in behavior indicative of mental illness, intellectual disability or autism.

(iii) Instruction on services available to individuals with mental illness, intellectual disabilities or autism.

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Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.

APPROVED--The 10th day of July, A.D. 2015.

TOM WOLF