H.B. 178

1

DISPATCHER SERVICE AMENDMENTS
2 2011 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Chief Sponsor: Richard A. Greenwood
5 Senate Sponsor: John L. Valentine
6
7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill modifies the Peace Officer Standards and Training Act regarding the
10 certification of dispatchers.
11 Highlighted Provisions:
12 This bill:
13 . modifies the definition of "good moral character";
14 . changes the time period for becoming inactive from one year to 18 months;
15 . provides for suspension of a dispatcher's certification if annual training is not
16 satisfactorily completed;
17 . revises the process for the suspension or revocation of a dispatcher's certification,
18 including:
19 . authorizing the Peace Officer Standards and Training Council to suspend or
20 revoke the certification of a dispatcher;
21 . amending the grounds for suspension or revocation; and
22 . providing procedures for adjudicative hearings, including burdens of proof and
23 levels of proof required; and
24 . provides that if a dispatcher relinquishes certification when a disciplinary procedure
25 against the dispatcher is pending, the dispatcher may not be certified again as a
26 dispatcher in Utah.
27 Money Appropriated in this Bill:

28 None
29 Other Special Clauses:
30 None
31 Utah Code Sections Affected:
32 AMENDS:
33 53-6-302, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2010, Chapters 283 and 324
34 53-6-304, as enacted by Laws of Utah 1995, Chapter 134
35 53-6-306, as enacted by Laws of Utah 1995, Chapter 134
36 ENACTS:
37 53-6-311, Utah Code Annotated 1953
38 REPEALS AND REENACTS:
39 53-6-309, as enacted by Laws of Utah 1995, Chapter 134
40
41 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
42 Section 1. Section 53-6-302 is amended to read:
43 53-6-302. Applicants for certification examination -- Requirements.
44 (1) Before being allowed to take a dispatcher certification examination, each applicant
45 shall meet the following requirements:
46 (a) be a United States citizen;
47 (b) be 18 years of age or older at the time of employment as a dispatcher;
48 (c) be a high school graduate or have a G.E.D. equivalent;
49 (d) have not been convicted of a crime for which the applicant could have been
50 punished by imprisonment in a federal penitentiary or by imprisonment in the penitentiary of
51 this or another state;
52 (e) have demonstrated good moral character, as determined by a background
53 investigation; and
54 (f) be free of any physical, emotional, or mental condition that might adversely affect
55 the performance of the applicant's duty as a dispatcher.
56 (2) (a) An application for certification shall be accompanied by a criminal history
57 background check of local, state, and national criminal history files and a background
58 investigation.

59 (b) The costs of the background check and investigation shall be borne by the applicant
60 or the applicant's employing agency.
61 [(i) Conviction of any offense not serious enough to be covered under Subsection
62 (1)(d), involving dishonesty, unlawful sexual conduct, physical violence, or the unlawful use,
63 sale, or possession for sale of a controlled substance is an indication that an applicant may not
64 be of good moral character and may be grounds for denial of certification or refusal to give a
65 certification examination.]
66 [(ii) An applicant may be allowed to take a certification examination provisionally,
67 pending completion of any background check or investigation required by this
68 Subsection (2)(b).]
69 (3) (a) Notwithstanding Title 77, Chapter 40, Utah Expungement Act, regarding
70 expungements, or a similar statute or rule of any other jurisdiction, any conviction obtained in
71 this state or other jurisdiction, including a conviction that has been expunged, dismissed, or
72 treated in a similar manner to either of these procedures, may be considered for purposes of this
73 section.
74 (b) Subsection (3)(a) applies to convictions entered both before and after May 1, 1995.
75 (4) Any background check or background investigation performed pursuant to the
76 requirements of this section shall be to determine eligibility for admission to training programs
77 or qualification for certification examinations and may not be used as a replacement for any
78 background investigations that may be required of an employing agency.
79 (5) An applicant is considered to be of good moral character under Subsection (1)(e) if
80 the applicant has not engaged in conduct that would be a violation of Subsection 53-6-309 (1)
81 or (2).
82 Section 2. Section 53-6-304 is amended to read:
83 53-6-304. Waiver of training course requirement.
84 (1) The director may waive the required basic dispatcher training course and certify an
85 applicant who:
86 (a) provides evidence that the applicant meets the requirements under Section
87 53-6-302 , relating to qualifications for admission to the training course;
88 (b) provides evidence that the applicant has completed a basic dispatcher training
89 program that, in the director's judgment, is equivalent to the course required for certification

90 under this part; and
91 (c) passes [a written] the certification examination[, an oral examination, or both, that
92 affirms the applicant's ability in public safety communications].
93 (2) An applicant who fails the examination under Subsection (1)(c) shall complete the
94 basic dispatcher training course and pass the [dispatcher] certification examination to become
95 certified.
96 Section 3. Section 53-6-306 is amended to read:
97 53-6-306. Inactive and lapsed certificates -- Reinstatement -- Continuing
98 education requirements.
99 (1) (a) The certificate of a dispatcher who has not been actively engaged in performing
100 the duties of a dispatcher for [one year shall be] 18 consecutive months or more is designated
101 "inactive."
102 [(b) If a dispatcher having an inactive certificate becomes reemployed or subsequently
103 reengaged as a dispatcher, the dispatcher's certificate may be reissued or reinstated by the
104 director upon successful completion by that dispatcher of the certification examination.]
105 [(c) The director may require a dispatcher with an inactive certificate to successfully
106 complete the basic dispatcher training course before reissuing or reinstating certification.]
107 (b) A dispatcher whose certificate is inactive shall pass the certification examination
108 before the certificate may be reissued or reinstated.
109 (2) (a) The certificate of a dispatcher who has not been actively engaged in performing
110 the duties of a dispatcher for four continuous years shall be designated "lapsed."
111 (b) [Subject to Section 53-6-305 , a] A dispatcher [having a lapsed] whose certificate
112 has lapsed shall successfully complete the basic training course and pass the certification
113 examination before the certificate may be reissued or reinstated.
114 (3) (a) A certified dispatcher shall complete annual training approved by the director of
115 20 hours or more.
116 [(b) (i) If a certified dispatcher does not complete the annual training requirement, then
117 that dispatcher's certificate shall be designated "inactive," and after one year, shall be
118 designated "lapsed."]
119 [(ii) The reinstatement of an inactive or a lapsed certificate under Subsection (3) shall
120 be governed by rules made by the director.]

121 (b) If a dispatcher fails to satisfactorily complete the annual training, the dispatcher's
122 certificate shall be suspended until any deficiency in the annual training is remedied.
123 Section 4. Section 53-6-309 is repealed and reenacted to read:
124 53-6-309. Suspension or revocation of certification -- Right to a hearing --
125 Grounds -- Notice to employer -- Reporting.
126 (1) The council has authority to suspend or revoke the certification of a dispatcher, if
127 the dispatcher:
128 (a) willfully falsifies any information to obtain certification;
129 (b) has any physical or mental disability affecting the dispatcher's ability to perform
130 duties;
131 (c) is addicted to alcohol or any controlled substance, unless the dispatcher reports the
132 addiction to the employer and to the director as part of a departmental early intervention
133 process;
134 (d) engages in conduct that is a state or federal criminal offense, but not including a
135 traffic offense that is a class C misdemeanor or infraction;
136 (e) refuses to respond, or fails to respond truthfully, to questions after having been
137 issued a warning issued based on Garrity v. New Jersey, 385 U.S. 493 (1967); or
138 (f) engages in sexual conduct while on duty.
139 (2) The council may not suspend or revoke the certification of a dispatcher for a
140 violation of the employing agency's policies, general orders, or guidelines of operation that do
141 not amount to a cause of action under Subsection (1).
142 (3) (a) The division is responsible for investigating dispatchers who are alleged to have
143 engaged in conduct in violation of Subsection (1).
144 (b) The division shall initiate all adjudicative proceedings under this section by
145 providing to the dispatcher involved notice and an opportunity for a hearing before an
146 administrative law judge.
147 (c) All adjudicative proceedings under this section are civil actions, notwithstanding
148 whether the issue in the adjudicative proceeding is a violation of statute that may be prosecuted
149 criminally.
150 (d) (i) The burden of proof on the division in an adjudicative proceeding under this
151 section is by clear and convincing evidence.

152 (ii) If a dispatcher asserts an affirmative defense, the dispatcher has the burden of proof
153 to establish the affirmative defense by a preponderance of the evidence.
154 (e) If the administrative law judge issues findings of fact and conclusions of law stating
155 there is sufficient evidence to demonstrate that the dispatcher engaged in conduct that is in
156 violation of Subsection (1), the division shall present the finding and conclusions issued by the
157 administrative law judge to the council.
158 (f) The division shall notify the agency that employs the involved dispatcher of the
159 investigation and shall provide any information or comments concerning the dispatcher
160 received from that agency regarding the dispatcher to the council before a dispatcher's
161 certification may be suspended or revoked.
162 (g) If the administrative law judge finds that there is insufficient evidence to
163 demonstrate that the dispatcher is in violation of Subsection (1), the administrative law judge
164 shall dismiss the adjudicative proceeding.
165 (4) (a) The council shall review the findings of fact and conclusions of law and the
166 information concerning the dispatcher provided by the dispatcher's employing agency and
167 determine whether to suspend or revoke the dispatcher's certification.
168 (b) A council member shall recuse himself or herself from consideration of an issue
169 that is before the council if the council member:
170 (i) has a personal bias for or against the dispatcher;
171 (ii) has a substantial pecuniary interest in the outcome of the proceeding and may gain
172 or lose some benefit from the outcome; or
173 (iii) employs, supervises, or works for the same agency as the dispatcher whose case is
174 before the council.
175 (5) (a) Termination of a dispatcher, whether voluntary or involuntary, does not
176 preclude suspension or revocation of a dispatcher's certification by the council if the dispatcher
177 was terminated for any of the reasons under Subsection (1).
178 (b) Employment by another agency, or reinstatement of a dispatcher by the original
179 employing agency after termination by that agency, whether the termination was voluntary or
180 involuntary, does not preclude suspension or revocation of a dispatcher's certification by the
181 council if the dispatcher was terminated for any of the reasons under Subsection (1).
182 (6) An agency that is made aware of an allegation against a dispatcher employed by

183 that agency that involves conduct in violation of Subsection (1) shall investigate the allegation
184 and report to the division if the allegation is found to be true.
185 Section 5. Section 53-6-311 is enacted to read:
186 53-6-311. Voluntary relinquishment of dispatcher certification.
187 (1) (a) A dispatcher may voluntarily relinquish the dispatcher's certification to the
188 division at any time when a disciplinary issue regarding the dispatcher has been referred to the
189 division.
190 (b) A dispatcher who voluntarily relinquishes certification under this Subsection (1)
191 may not subsequently be certified as a dispatcher in Utah.
192 (2) Subsection (1) does not apply to a dispatcher whose certification has become
193 inactive as provided in Section 53-6-306 .




Legislative Review Note
as of 1-28-11 12:20 PM

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel