DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of the law
or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 277 Original 2017 Regular Session James
Abstract: Requires certain mandatory basic and annual certification hours for peace officers and
establishes the time periods for all peace officers to obtain P.O.S.T. training and certification.
Present law establishes the Council on Peace Officer Standards and Training and authorizes the
council to develop curriculum requirements for training of peace officers and to accredit law
enforcement training centers. Present law further provides for the training requirements for peace
officers.
Proposed law requires all peace officers to successfully complete a minimum of 400 hours of basic
core curriculum training and a minimum of 20 hours of in service training on an annual basis to
maintain P.O.S.T. certification, to be prescribed by the council.
Proposed law requires the council to develop and implement curriculum for de-escalation, bias
policing recognition, sudden in-custody death, and crisis intervention training for peace officers no
later than Jan. 1, 2018.
Present law requires all peace officers to be certified by the Council on Peace Officer Standards and
Training by completing a certified training program prescribed by the council and to successfully
pass a council approved comprehensive examination within one calendar year from the date of initial
employment.
Proposed law retains present law but requires part-time or reserve peace officers hired after Jan. 1,
2020, to successfully complete a certified training program approved by the council and successfully
pass a council-approved comprehensive examination within one calendar year from initial date of
employment.
Present law also requires peace officers hired after Jan. 1, 1986, in a village with a population of less
than 1,000 to obtain P.O.S.T. certification within 2 calendar years and exempts part-time and reserve
peace officers from this requirement.
Proposed law retains present law but requires part-time or reserve peace officers hired after Jan. 1,
2022, to successfully complete a certified training program approved by the council and to
successfully pass a council-approved comprehensive examination within one calendar year from
initial date of employment.
Present law further provides that any person who fails to comply with training requirements shall not be prohibited from performing administrative duties.
Present law requires the Council on Peace Officer Standards and Training to develop and implement
by Aug. 1, 2006, a training course on law enforcement interaction with mentally ill or
developmentally disabled persons with assistance from community, local, and state organizations
specialized in the area of working with such population.
Present law further provides that the training course on law enforcement interaction with mentally
ill and developmentally disabled persons will be implemented when funding is made available for
such program. Proposed law retains present law but removes the funding contingency language
provided in present law.
(Amends R.S. 40:2405(A)(2), (E), (H)(2)(a), and (I)(2); Adds R.S. 40:2404.2; Repeals R.S.
40:2405.5(F))