On March 19, 2020, Governor Newsom issued a statewide stay-at-home order as a means to slow or stop the spread of COVID-19 in California. As a result, agencies and presenters had to cease in-person training. In an attempt to continue providing training, agencies and presenters began to look to distance learning as a viable training option. Governor Newsom has made distance learning a priority and funding was allocated for the purpose of promoting distance learning among law enforcement in California in the State budget for the 2020-2021 Fiscal Year.

Based on the Governor's directive, POST staff have encouraged agencies and presenters to transition existing in-person courses or develop new courses for an online format.

However, in reviewing Regulations related to course types used for distance learning, POST staff found that the language of these Regulations is outdated.

Based on the Governor's directive, POST staff have encouraged agencies and presenters to transition existing in-person courses or develop new courses for an online format. However, in reviewing Regulations related to course types used for distance learning, POST staff found that the language of these Regulations are outdated. Among these is Regulation 1001 - Definitions.

A review of Regulation 1001, found that some terms related to distance learning are outdated and reference terms or phrases that are no longer considered relevant or current by industry standards. Additionally, many definitions that reflect current industry standards or best practices in distance education are not included in Regulation 1001. With the newfound emphasis on distance learning, it is important that POST keep abreast of current industry standards and facilitate the understanding of these standards among its law enforcement agencies and training partners.

POST staff have reviewed common terms in distance learning that reflect current industry standards and conferred with subject matter experts within and outside of POST. Staff identified several terms that would be most applicable to the needs of providing law enforcement training in an online or distance learning platform.

POST staff propose to amend Regulation 1001 to include important distance learning terms in the list of definitions provided by the Regulation.

POST staff recommend the Commission approve the amendment to Regulation 1001 to add and update definitions related to distance learning.

Should the Commission concur, the appropriate action would be a MOTION to amend the changes to Regulation articulated in the staff report.