Wisconsin Legislative Council
ACT MEMO
One Ea st Ma in Stre e t, Suite 401 • Ma dison, W I 53703 • (608) 266-1304 • le g.council@le gis.wisconsin.gov • http://www.le gis.wisconsin.gov/lc
Prepared by: Amber Otis, Senior Staff Attorney April 8, 2024
2023 Wisconsin Act 227
[2023 Senate Bill 573]
Training Expenses for Law
Enforcement Officers
BACKGROUND
State law requires that a person satisfactorily complete a preparatory training program in order to be
certified as a law enforcement officer by the Law Enforcement Standards Board (LESB). Once certified,
an officer must complete at least 24 hours of recertification training annually.
With respect to costs for preparatory training, prior law required the LESB to authorize reimbursement
to each political subdivision for approved expenses, including tuition, living, and travel expenses,
incurred by recruits who satisfactorily complete preparatory training at schools certified by the LESB.
For the costs of recertification training, prior law required the LESB to reimburse each political
subdivision of approved expenses for law enforcement officers who complete annual recertification
training in the amount of at least $160 per officer.
2023 WISCONSIN ACT 227
2023 Wisconsin Act 227 modifies state law with respect to officer training expenses in two ways.
First, Act 227 requires the LESB to pay an employing law enforcement agency directly for the expenses
associated with an officer’s preparatory and recertification training, rather than as a reimbursement to
the political subdivision, as provided under prior law. Second, Act 227 increases the minimum
reimbursement amount for annual recertification training from $160 to $320 per officer per year.
Effective date: March 29, 2024. With respect to the dollar amount provided per officer, Act 227 first
applies to training costs incurred on July 1, 2024.
For a full history of the bill, visit the Legislature’s bill history page.
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