RÉSUMÉ DIGEST
Act 152 (SB 37) 2015 Regular Session Morrell
Prior law required the Council on Peace Officer Standards and Training (Council) to develop
minimum curriculum requirements for the training of peace officers.
New law requires the council to develop and continuously update a POST recognized
homicide investigator training program and a sexual assault awareness training program for
peace officers that consist of classroom or Internet instruction, or both. New law authorizes
the homicide training to include field officer training as prescribed by the council.
New law requires that, on and after Jan. 1, 2016, each person employed as a full-time college
or university police officer complete a sexual assault awareness training program as provided
by the council.
New law requires that the council develop and continuously update homicide investigator
and sexual assault awareness training programs for peace officers which consist of classroom
or Internet instruction, or both. Provides that the training programs may include field officer
training.
Requires that the council create and maintain a current list of peace officers who have
successfully completed the homicide investigator training program for purposes of
coordinating homicide investigations occurring in the state. Provides that on and after Jan.
1, 2017, only law enforcement officers who successfully complete the homicide investigator
training program or receive a waiver of compliance based on prior training or experience as
a homicide investigator shall be assigned to lead investigations in homicide cases.
New law requires that the council develop the sexual assault awareness training program in
a series of modules which include all of the following items:
(1)The neurobiology of sexual assault and trauma, including victim impact.
(2)Response to sexual assault, including but not limited to investigative methods,
collecting and securing evidence, and interviewing victims.
(3)Applicable federal and state victim's rights laws.
New law requires that the council solicit free or no-cost training and technical assistance and
may accept gifts, grants, and donations from whatever sources are. Further requires that the
council consult with appropriate governmental agencies and nongovernmental statewide
agencies in the development and presentation of the training required by new law. Provides
that only nongovernmental agencies whose primary purpose is the delivery of sexual assault
services to victims are required to be consulted.
New law requires that the council promulgate rules and regulations in accordance with the
APA, subject to legislative oversight by the House Committee on the Administration of
Criminal Justice and the Senate Committee on Judiciary B, for the following training
programs:
(1)The implementation of a homicide investigator training program no later than July
1, 2016.
(2)The implementation of the sexual assault awareness training program for persons
employed full-time as college or university police officers no later than Oct. 1, 2015.
(3)The implementation of a sexually assault awareness training program for peace
officers no later than January 1, 2017.
Prior law defined "peace officer" as any full-time employee of the state, a municipality, a
sheriff, or other public agency, whose permanent duties actually include the making of
arrests, the performing of searches and seizures, or the execution of criminal warrants, and
is responsible for the prevention or detection of crime or for the enforcement of the penal,
traffic, or highway laws of this state, but not including any elected or appointed head of a
law enforcement department. Effective upon signature of the governor (June 23, 2015).
(Adds R.S. 17:1805(H) and R.S. 40:2405.8)