AB 992: Peace officers.

Existing law requires the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, in consultation with specified entities, to develop a modern policing degree program and to prepare and submit a report to the Legislature outlining a plan to implement the program. Existing law establishes the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training within the Department of Justice and requires the commission to approve and adopt the education criteria for peace officers, based on the recommendations in the report.

This bill would repeal the requirement for the commission to approve and adopt the criteria described above.

Existing law requires a peace officer to meet specified requirements, including, to be a high school graduate or meet equivalency standards, as specified, or to attain a 2-year, 4-year, or advanced degree from an accredited college or university.

This bill would require, commencing January 1, 2031, a peace officer, as specified, to attain one or more specified degrees, experience, degrees or certificates within 36 months of receiving their basic certificate by the commission, as specified, unless the person is, is employed by the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation or as a deputy sheriff of specified counties and is employed to perform duties relating to custodial facilities, as specified, has at least 4 years of law enforcement experience from another state or at least 4 years of military service in the Armed Forces of the United States, as specified, is employed as a peace officer by the State Department of State Hospitals, or is, as of December 31, 2030, currently enrolled in a basic academy or is employed as a peace officer by a public entity in California. The bill would authorize coursework completed as part of military or law enforcement training to count toward a degree or certificate, as specified.

Existing law requires the commission to adopt rules establishing and upholding minimum standards relating to physical, mental, and moral fitness to govern the recruitment of peace officers, as specified, for the purpose of raising the level of competence of local law enforcement officers.

This bill would establish the Statewide Law Enforcement Recruitment Task Force, with the goal of identifying and recruiting candidates for law enforcement agencies.