SB 804

This bill requires the Department of Administration to establish and

administer a pilot program for grants for payment of training costs for new law

enforcement officers at small law enforcement agencies. Under the bill, “small law

enforcement agency” means a police department, tribal police department, combined

protective services department, or sheriff's office that employs fewer than 25

full-time equivalent law enforcement officers who are not supervisors. The grants

may be used to pay for training a preservice student who is enrolled in a program to

become a law enforcement officer or tribal law enforcement officer and to pay for

employment costs during the first six months of employment of such an officer. Also

under the bill, if a small law enforcement agency has received reimbursement for

training a preservice student or recruit from the Law Enforcement Standards Board,

the agency may not also receive a grant under the program that duplicates the

amounts reimbursed. The bill requires any individual whose training or recruitment

period of six months is paid for under the pilot program to commit to remain with the

employing small law enforcement agency for one year after the training or service

paid for with the grant has ended. If such an individual does not complete 12 months

of employment, the department may seek from the individual repayment of the grant

on a prorated basis. Under the bill, DOA must administer the pilot program until

the appropriation for the program is fully depleted.