BILL NUMBER: AB 1152	CHAPTERED  07/02/01

	CHAPTER  29
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  JULY 2, 2001
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  JUNE 30, 2001
	PASSED THE SENATE  JUNE 18, 2001
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  MAY 3, 2001
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 2, 2001

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Vargas

                        FEBRUARY 23, 2001

   An act to amend Section 1031 of the Government Code, relating to
peace officers.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1152, Vargas.  Peace officer qualifications.
   Existing law establishes certain minimum standards for public
officers or employees declared by law to be peace officers.  The
minimum education requirement is high school graduation, passing the
General Education Development Test at high school graduation level,
or a 2-year or 4-year degree from an accredited college or
university.
   This bill would provide that the education requirement may be met
by passing the California High School Proficiency Examination and
would revise the accreditation standard.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  Section 1031 of the Government Code is amended to read:

   1031.  Each class of public officers or employees declared by law
to be peace officers shall meet all of the following minimum
standards:
   (a) Be a citizen of the United States or a permanent resident
alien who is eligible for and has applied for citizenship, except as
provided in Section 2267 of the Vehicle Code.
   (b) Be at least 18 years of age.
   (c) Be fingerprinted for purposes of search of local, state, and
national fingerprint files to disclose any criminal record.
   (d) Be of good moral character, as determined by a thorough
background investigation.
   (e) Be a high school graduate, pass the General Education
Development Test indicating high school graduation level, pass the
California High School Proficiency Examination, or have attained a
two-year or four-year degree from an accredited college or
university.  The high school shall be either a United States public
school meeting the high school standards set by the state in which it
is located, an accredited United States Department of Defense high
school, or an accredited nonpublic high school.  Any accreditation
required by this paragraph shall be from an accrediting association
recognized by the Secretary of the United States Department of
Education.  This subdivision shall not apply to any public officer or
employee who was employed, prior to the effective date of the
amendment of this section made at the 1971 Regular Session of the
Legislature, in any position declared by law prior to the effective
date of that amendment to be peace officer positions.
   (f) Be found to be free from any physical, emotional, or mental
condition which might adversely affect the exercise of the powers of
a peace officer.  Physical condition shall be evaluated by a licensed
physician and surgeon.  Emotional and mental condition shall be
evaluated by a licensed physician and surgeon or by a licensed
psychologist who has a doctoral degree in psychology and at least
five years of postgraduate experience in the diagnosis and treatment
of emotional and mental disorders.
   This section shall not be construed to preclude the adoption of
additional or higher standards, including age.