BILL ANALYSIS
AB 1339
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Date of Hearing: April 24, 2001
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS
Lou Correa, Chair
AB 1339 (Keeley) - As Introduced: February 23, 2001
SUBJECT : Peace officer training.
SUMMARY : Mandates additional training requirements for peace
officers assigned primarily to a public school and requires all
institutions desiring to teach the 24-hour school security
training program to apply for certification with the Department
of Consumer Affairs. Specifically, this bill :
1)Requires all school peace officers, municipal police and
county sheriffs assigned to a public school to take the
specialized 32-hour Campus Law Enforcement course.
2)Requires the 24-hour school security-training course to be in
a format approved by the Department of Consumer affairs.
3)Requires an institution or individual desiring a training
facility or instructor certification from the Department of
Consumer Affairs to submit the appropriate application with
the specified fee.
4)Requires an individual applying for instructor certification
to meet one of two specified minimum qualifications described
by the Department of Consumer Affairs.
5)Requires the application for a training facility certification
to list the name and certificate number of each employed
instructor who will teach the school security-training course.
6)Allows a school security-training certificate to be valid only
if the institution providing the course has a certified
instructor in its employ.
7)Mandates every approved institution teaching the school
security-training course and every certified instructor to
post the training certificate in a noticeable area.
8)Mandates that all course material, given to the certificate
holder, will be covered in class.
AB 1339
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9)Sets a specific application fee and renewal fee for training
facility certification and instructor certification.
EXISTING LAW
1)Requires sworn school police officers to take the 32-hour
Campus Law Enforcement course but does not mandate municipal
police or county sheriffs' specifically assigned to public
schools to take the course.
2)Establishes the Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST)
program to develop and implement specialized training programs
designed to increase the effectiveness of law enforcement
officers and agencies.
3)Requires POST to review the minimum training and selection
standards for peace officers who are employed by a school
district and members of a security or police department of a
school district.
4)Requires POST to prepare a specialized course of instruction
for the training of school police offices to meet the unique
safety needs of a school environment.
5)Provides that any peace officer employed by a K-12 public
school district or community college district who has
completed POST specified training shall be designated a school
police officer.
6)Requires every school police reserve officer to complete a
POST-approved training course that addresses various school
related matters and the guidelines and procedures for
reporting offenses to other law enforcement officers and
agencies on campus.
7)Authorizes a community college district to establish a
security department under the supervision of a chief of
security or local chief of police.
8)Requires school security officers to complete a 24-hour
training program but does not establish certification
standards for the course providers or course instructors.
9)Authorizes school and community college districts to employ
security officers and mandates any security officer working
AB 1339
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more than 20 hours a week to complete a specialized training
course offered through the Department of Consumer Affairs.
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown
COMMENTS :
1)Most municipal law enforcement personnel assigned to school
campuses and school district police have not received training
as School Resource Officers (SRO). Furthermore, the non-sworn
security personnel and in-house personnel that provide school
security on a part-time basis are not required to take any
formal security training.
2)Supporters stress that schools have become increasingly more
dangerous for students and unthinkable acts of violence have
recently occurred on school campuses. Understanding juvenile
crime and how to respond to it has never been as important as
it is today.
3)Supporters stress that it is imperative that peace officers
who provide law enforcement services to public schools receive
appropriate training to ensure they are prepared to respond
and deal with today's unique situations.
4)Requiring all sworn peace officers assigned specifically to a
public school district or community college campus, to
complete the 32-hour Campus Law Enforcement course, can
strengthen the officers' ability to understand and respond to
the needs of an ever-changing school environment.
5)Supporters stress the importance of ensuring that the 24-hour
school security training program for security officers is
providing appropriate and adequate training. Certifying the
facilities and instructors and providing necessary oversight
and approval of course material will ensure that the training
is effective and appropriate for the school environment.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
California School Employees Association (sponsor)
California College & University Police Chiefs Association
AB 1339
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Opposition
None on file.
Analysis Prepared by : Chris L. Gallardo / B. & P. / (916)
319-3301