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7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill requires an institution of higher education to award credit to a person who has
10 completed a law enforcement basic training course.
11 Highlighted Provisions:
12 This bill:
13 ▸ requires the Peace Officers Standards and Training Division to provide certain
14 information on credits to a person who completes basic training and passes a
15 certification examination;
16 ▸ defines terms; and
17 ▸ requires certain institutions of higher education to award credit to a person who
18 completes a law enforcement basic training course and passes a certification
19 examination.
20 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
21 None
22 Other Special Clauses:
23 None
24 Utah Code Sections Affected:
25 AMENDS:
26 53-6-205, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 58
27 ENACTS:
28 53B-16-109, Utah Code Annotated 1953
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30 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
31 Section 1. Section 53-6-205 is amended to read:
32 53-6-205. Completion of training course required -- Persons affected --
33 Notification of credit eligibility.
34 (1) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (2), before a person may be certified as a
35 peace officer in Utah the person shall:
36 (i) successfully complete the basic training course at a certified academy;
37 (ii) pass the certification examination; and
38 (iii) pass a physical fitness test.
39 (b) A person may not exercise peace officer authority until certified.
40 (2) Subsection (1) applies only to persons not previously certified and who receive
41 their first employment appointment or election as a peace officer in Utah on or after January 1,
42 1985.
43 (3) The division shall inform a person who meets the requirements of Subsections
44 (1)(a)(i) and (ii) that the person is eligible for credit at certain institutions of higher education
45 in accordance with Section 53B-16-109.
46 Section 2. Section 53B-16-109 is enacted to read:
47 53B-16-109. Credit for peace officer training -- Transferability.
48 (1) As used in this section:
49 (a) "Basic training course" means the basic training described in Section 53-6-202.
50 (b) "Certification examination" means the certification examination described in
51 Section 53-6-205.
52 (c) "Certified academy" means the same as that term is defined in Section 53-6-102.
53 (2) (a) Subject to Subsection (2)(b), a person who completes a basic training course at a
54 certified academy and passes the certification examination shall, except as provided in
55 Subsection (2)(c), receive 18 credits at an institution of higher education listed in Section
56 53B-3-102 in which the person is enrolled.
57 (b) An institution of higher education shall award the credits described in Subsection
58 (2)(a) if:
59 (i) the institution of higher education offers a program in criminal justice or a similar
60 program; and
61 (ii) the person's declared major is in criminal justice or a similar program.
62 (c) A person may request to receive fewer credits.
63 (3) If a person described in Subsection (2)(a) transfers to another institution of higher
64 education, and the receiving institution offers a criminal justice or a similar program, the
65 receiving institution shall award 18 credits to the person if the person transfers to and declares
66 a major in criminal justice or a similar program at the receiving institution.
67 (4) The board shall adopt rules in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 4,
68 Administrative Procedures Act, consistent with this section for its implementation and
69 administration.
70 (5) This section does not apply to a person for whom the basic training course was
71 waived under Section 53-6-206.
Legislative Review Note
Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel