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AGENDA ITEM REPORT

Title: Report on Proposed Changes to the Training and Testing Specifications for Peace Officer Basic Courses
REPORT PROFILE
MEETING DATE
2/25/2016		 BUREAU SUBMITTING THIS REPORT
Basic Training Bureau
RESEARCHED BY (PRINT NAME)
Cheryl Smith		 REVIEWED BY (PRINT NAME)
Scott Loggins
REPORT DATE
12/01/2015		 APPROVED BY
Robert A. Stresak		 DATE APPROVED
01/24/16
PURPOSE
Decision Requested		 FINANCIAL IMPACT
No

ISSUE:
Should the Commission approve, subject to the Notice of Proposed Regulatory Action process, the proposed Training and Testing Specifications for Peace Officer Basic Courses, as enumerated in this report?
BACKGROUND:

As part of an ongoing review of the Regular Basic Course content, POST staff and curriculum consultants review Learning Domain content to determine currency, and job task relevancy, and compliance with legislative mandates.  This process is facilitated by POST staff and attended by subject matter experts, academy directors, and coordinators. Some of the more significant outcomes of these workshops are recommendations for updating and enhancing the basic courses.  The recommendations are presented to the academy directors, and coordinators for consideration.

On October 3, 2015, Governor Brown signed into law Senate Bill 11 (Beall), enacting Penal Code section 13515.26 which mandates that fifteen (15) hours of mental health training be presented in the Regular Basic Course (Academy).

ANALYSIS:

SB 11 added section 13515.26 to the Penal Code, requiring POST to ensure at least fifteen (15) hours of instruction be presented in the Regular Basic Course.  The new mandate requires the content to include training scenarios and facilitated learning activities relating to law enforcement interaction with persons with mental illness, intellectual disability, and substance use disorders, and that it shall be presented within the existing hours allotted for the Regular Basic Course, on or before August 1, 2016.

The additional content represents nine (9) extra hours to Learning Domain (LD) 37, for a cumulative total of 15 hours, satisfying the SB 11 mandate.  To accommodate the additional required material without removing critical curriculum in other learning domains, hours were redistributed from existing time established for student testing.

The proposed changes (Attachments A.1 through A.4) affect the following courses and Learning Domain:

  • LD 37, People with Disabilities
  • Minimum Content and Hourly Requirements, Regular Basic Course (RBC) - Standard Format
  • Minimum Content and Hourly Requirements, Regular Basic Course (RBC) Modular Format - Module I
  • Minimum Content and Hourly Requirements, Specialized Investigators Basic Course (SIBC). The SIBC changes are minimal and are unrelated to SB11.

A summary of the recommended changes reflected in the staff report are described in Attachment B.

This item supports Strategic Plan Objective A.1, California law enforcement agencies are prepared to address emerging trends and challenges.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the Commission approve the proposed revisions to the Training and Testing Specifications as amended and pursuant to the rulemaking process and the Office of Administrative Law.  If no one requests a public hearing, the amendments would become effective August 1, 2016.
 
ATTACHMENT(S):
Name: Type:
LD37.pdf Cover Memo
RBC_MINIMUM_HOURLY_REQUIREMENTS.pdf Cover Memo
MODULE_I_MINIMUM_HOURLY_REQUIREMENTS.pdf Cover Memo
SIBC_MINIMUM_HOURLY_REQUIREMENTS.pdf Cover Memo
LEGEND_OF_RECOMMENDATIONS.pdf Cover Memo