AB 540

Under current law, the Law Enforcement Standards Board creates a training

program that most law enforcement officers and tribal officers are required to

complete. Current law requires the program to include some specialized training,

including training in handling domestic abuse situations, training on emergency

detention standards, awareness of Alzheimer's and other dementia-related

diseases, responses to terrorist acts, and cultural diversity and sensitivity.

Under current law, the Department of Health Services (DHS) may license a

person as an emergency medical technician or certify a person as a first responder

if the person satisfactorily completes a course of instruction and training or

otherwise demonstrates that he or she is sufficiently trained and educated in

emergency care. Current law requires specialized training in responses to terrorist

acts and allows DHS to set additional qualification requirements and to promulgate

rules for specialized training.

This bill requires the training program for law enforcement officers and tribal

officers and the course of instruction and training for emergency medical technicians

and first responders to include specialized training in recognizing and interacting

with persons who have suffered a traumatic brain injury.