AB 21

Bill Subjects

Abstract

Existing law requires specified categories of law enforcement officers to meet training standards pursuant to courses of training certified by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) . Existing law requires POST to require field training officers who are instructors for the field training program to have at least 8 hours of crisis intervention behavioral health training to better train new peace officers on how to effectively interact with persons with mental illness or intellectual disability. This bill would require the commission to revise that training to include instruction on how to effectively interact with persons with Alzheimer's disease or dementia. The bill would specify that a field training officer who completed the training prior to January 1, 2025, or who is exempt from completing the training, is not required to take the updated training, but would require a field training officer who has not completed the training on or after January 1, 2025, or who is not exempt from completing the training, to complete the revised training. The bill would exempt jurisdictions that, prior to January 1, 2024, develop a training that meets the same requirements. This bill would also require the commission, upon the next regularly scheduled review of a training module relating to persons with disabilities, to create and distribute electronically a course on how to recognize and interact with persons with Alzheimer's disease and dementia. The bill would require peace officers appointed on or before July 1, 2029, to complete that course by January 1, 2030, and peace officers appointed after July 1, 2029, to complete that course within 180 days of being appointed, as specified. The bill would exempt jurisdictions that, prior to January 1, 2024, develop a training that meets the same requirements. By creating new duties for local officials, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.