Historically, POST has charged minimal fees or provided free services to the field.  Some of these services have proven to be extremely time consuming for POST Staff.  These services include conducting Management Studies, and the processing of Professional Certificate and Basic Course Waiver applications. 

POST currently charges non-California POST agencies for access to the Learning Portal and training DVDs, but the process is cumbersome and time consuming.  Thus, POST is in the middle-stages of implementing an online payment system to expedite the collection of fees.  The by-product of the online payment system will result in quick and expanded availability of POST online training to non-POST agency personnel.

 POST previously opted to not charge a fee the use of meeting/training room usage, but the rooms have been used regularly by non-POST agencies and require maintenance expenses and staff time for set-up and tear-down.

Therefore, POST has already implemented an internal policy and fee structure for use of training/meeting rooms by non-law enforcement agencies.

Management Studies:

POST provides a variety of studies for California participating agencies.  Studies are agency specific and at times take an inordinate amount of staff travel and hours.  For example, POST conducts Evidence and Property studies that if contracted out to private entities can run between $10,000 - $25,000 with other studies ranging from $45,000 - $200,000.  All studies provided by POST to POST agencies are free of charge.

Penal Code Section 13513 states the Commission shall provide counseling services to police agencies when requested.  Regulation 1016, established in 1968, states POST will not charge for studies conducted by POST staff.  Since 1968, the cost of conducting studies has increased significantly and for that reason, POST is requesting approval to revise current Regulation and develop a fee structure for studies.

Should the Commission grant POST authority, POST staff will begin the process of developing a proposed fee structure and will draft language to modify Regulation 1016.  Should the Commission grant this authority, POST staff will propose the recommendations at a future Commission meeting.

Lastly, below are examples of other charges POST staff is considering or has already implemented to recoup costs:

Professional Certificates (2017) – Under Consideration: 

These totals do not reflect the approximate 4,000 Professional Certificate applications currently in the queue awaiting processing.

Basic Course Waiver – Under Consideration/Separate Agenda Item:

The current application fee of $75 was established in 1981 when the Basic Course Waiver process was implemented, and at time when POST had more staffing.  The application and evaluation fee includes applicant processing, staff evaluation of equivalent documentation, staff time and materials cost required to correspond with the individuals and agencies through the process, staff time involved in processing the fee, and administrative/supervisory time required for review and approval.

Learning Portal/DVD access for Non-CA POST entities – Implementation Phase:

POST regularly fields telephone calls from non-California POST entities, primarily law enforcement agencies outside of California, desiring to access streaming video, DVDs and Learning Portal training.  By implementing an online payment and registration process, rather than using handwritten mailed requests and money orders, POST will provide almost instantaneous access to non-POST personnel at a nominal fee.

POST Meeting Room Rentals - Implemented:

POST has historically allowed outside groups and state agencies to utilize POST training/meeting rooms at no cost.  Other state agencies charge for their meeting room space.  Some private presenters have a room rental line item built into their POST approved budgets, but when they conduct training at POST they pay no fees for use of the training rooms.  The costs to POST include, for example, overhead projector bulbs at $400 each, wear and tear for carpets/furniture, AV/room set up, as well as manual front lobby check-in by POST staff.  The costs are currently coming out of the POST administrative budget.

Lastly, in May 2018, POST discussed with the Department of Finance (DoF) the proposal to charge certain fees as well as increase other fees.  The DoF concurred with POST's assessment.

Staff recommends the Commission authorize the Executive Director to develop a fee structure to charge for Management Studies, as well as draft proposed modifications to Regulation 1016.