BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 546
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CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
AB
546 (Gonzalez)
As Amended June 29, 2015
Majority vote
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|ASSEMBLY: | 78-0 | (April 23, |SENATE: | 40-0 | (July 13, 2015) |
| | |2015) | | | |
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Original Committee Reference: PUB. S.
SUMMARY: Requires the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and
Training (POST), when evaluating a certification request from a
probation department for the introductory and requisite peace
officer training course, to deem that there is an identifiable
and unmet need for the training course.
The Senate amendments recast the original language of this bill
to require POST, when evaluating a certification request from a
probation department for the introductory and requisite peace
officer training course, to deem that there is an identifiable
and unmet need for the training course.
EXISTING LAW:
1)Provides that every person described in this chapter as a
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peace officer shall satisfactorily complete an introductory
training course prescribed by POST. On or after July 1, 1989,
satisfactory completion of the course shall be demonstrated by
passage of an appropriate examination developed or approved by
the commission. Training in the carrying and use of firearms
shall not be required of a peace officer whose employing
agency prohibits the use of firearms.
2)Provides that every peace officer described in this chapter,
prior to the exercise of the powers of a peace officer, shall
have satisfactorily completed the specified training course.
3)Provides that every specified peace officer may satisfactorily
complete the training required by this section as part of the
training prescribed.
4)Provides that persons described in this chapter as peace
officers who have not satisfactorily completed the specified
course shall not have the powers of a peace officer until they
satisfactorily complete the course.
5)Provides that a peace officer who, on March 4, 1972, possesses
or is qualified to possess the basic certificate as awarded by
POST is exempted from this section.
6)Requires all peace officers to complete an introductory course
of training prescribed by POST, demonstrated by passage of an
appropriate examination developed by POST.
7)Establishes the POST.
8)Empowers POST to develop and implement programs to increase
the effectiveness of law enforcement.
9)Authorizes POST, for the purpose of raising the level of
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competence of local law enforcement officers, to adopt rules
establishing minimum standards related to physical, mental and
moral fitness and training that shall govern the recruitment
of any peace officers in California.
10)Requires POST to conduct research concerning job-related
educational standards and job-related selection standards to
include vision, hearing, physical ability, and emotional
stability and adopt standards supported by this research.
11)Requires POST to establish a certification program for peace
officers, which shall be considered professional certificates.
FISCAL EFFECT: According to the Senate Appropriations
Committee, pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8, negligible state costs.
COMMENTS: According to the author, "The work of probation
departments has become an essential part of our public safety
blueprint in California. To ensure we are meeting local and
regional training demands for our officers, Assembly Bill 546
would authorize these departments to submit the PC 832 course
for certification to either POST or the Board of State and
Community Corrections. Allowing probation departments to have
another option for certification will better facilitate the
delivery and coordination of courses, giving County probation
departments across the state the ability to choose what best
fits their training needs."
1)Probation Departments and Lack of Vacancies: According to the
proponents of this bill, there is a significant waiting list
for probation department officers to receive the basic "PC
832" training due to a lack of vacancies in existing classes
which are offered by other agencies. By permitting the Board
of State Community Corrections to certify courses for
probation departments, probation officers would no longer have
such significant waiting times in order to be properly trained
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pursuant to the requirements of Penal Code Section 832.
Analysis Prepared by:
Gabriel Caswell / PUB. S. / (916) 319-3744 FN:
0001212