Pennsylvania Act 2012-165 — GENERAL LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE (53 PA.C.S.) - POWERS AND DUTIES OF MUNICIPAL POLICE OFFICERS' EDUCATION AND TRAINING COMMISSION

Act text

Session of 2012

No. 2012-165

HB 2043

AN ACT

Amending Title 53 (Municipalities Generally) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, 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 2164(15) of Title 53 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes is amended and the section is amended by adding paragraphs to read:

§ 2164. Powers and duties of commission.

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

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(3.1) To suspend or revoke the certification of a police officer or the approval of an instructor for a violation of 37 Pa. Code Ch. 203 (relating to administration of the program). The following shall apply:

(i) In the case of a suspension, a hearing examiner appointed by the commission shall recommend to the commission whether the certification of a police officer or the approval of an instructor shall be suspended. If the certification or approval is suspended, the hearing examiner shall recommend a period of suspension which may be approved by the commission. At the end of the period of suspension, the police officer or instructor may reapply for certification or approval.

(ii) A police officer or instructor whose certification or approval is revoked before, on or after the effective date of this paragraph may apply to the commission for reinstatement no sooner than one year following the date of revocation.

(iii) The commission shall develop standards and guidelines to determine whether certification or approval shall be reinstated. Separate standards shall be developed for suspension and revocations.

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(15) With respect to mandatory basic training:

(i) To grant waivers of mandatory basic training to police officers who have successfully completed previous equivalent training or who have acceptable full-time police experience, or both.

(ii) To grant waivers of portions of mandatory basic training to Federal law enforcement officers and military police officers who have successfully completed previous equivalent training. In order to be certified by the commission, Federal law enforcement officers and military police officers shall fulfill basic police training requirements and meet the minimum standards required for certification.

(16) To assess, in consultation with the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, the Department of Health and other State, community or local organizations and agencies that have expertise in the field of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the training needs of police officers on recognizing and interacting with veterans and other individuals suffering from TBI or PTSD. Should the commission determine that there is a need for specialized training on TBI and PTSD, the commission shall develop a training course that shall be made available to all police officers and law enforcement agencies within this Commonwealth.

Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

APPROVED--The 24th day of October, A.D. 2012.

TOM CORBETT