Law Enforcement

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and text do not provide specific details on enforcement mechanisms for out-of-state residents.

Law Enforcement Officer Certification After Retirement or Separation

This bill requires Tennessee's Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) commission to issue certificates of compliance to retired or separated law enforcement officers who meet certain criteria.

What This Bill Does

• Requires the POST commission to give a certificate of compliance to former police officers when they retire or leave their job if they meet specific requirements.
• Specifies that former officers must complete required training, get good standing letters from their previous employer, and pay any fees for certification.
• States that former officers who move out of Tennessee lose eligibility to renew their certification.
• Gives the POST commission authority to make rules about how to carry out this law.

Who It Names or Affects

• Former police officers in Tennessee
• The Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission

Terms To Know

Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission

A group that sets standards for training and certification of law enforcement officers in Tennessee.

Certificate of Compliance

A document given to former police officers who meet certain requirements after they retire or leave their job.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify what happens if a former officer fails to meet the certification criteria.
• It is unclear how this law will be enforced for out-of-state residents.
• The exact rules and procedures for issuing certificates are left up to the POST commission.

Official Summary Text

This bill requires t
he
Tennessee peace officer standards and training
(POST)
commission
to
issue a certificate of compliance to a law enforcement officer upon separation from service or retirement from the law enforcement agency that employed the officer. Upon separation from service or retirement, the former officer is entitled to certificat
ion annually if the former officer
meets all of the following criteria:



Has satisfactorily completed an approved recruit training program as required by
existing law relative to the training of police officers.


Is up to date on the former officer's annual in-service training commensurate with the former officer's rank and responsibilities
.


Provides the commission with a letter of good standing upon separation from service or retirement from the executive head of the officer's former employing law enforcement agency for each year that the former officer applies for certification under this
bill.


Provides the commission annually with proof satisfactory that the former officer is a resident of this state, including the county of residence
.


Pays any fee associated with the issuance or renewal of such certification
.


Satisfies all other requirements of the commission for certification under this
bill
after separation from service or retirement.

This bill clarifies that a
former law enforcement officer certified under this
bill (i) i
s not entitled to a pay supplement for such certification and
(ii) must
notify the commission immediately upon becoming a resident of another state or territory of the United States. Upon receipt of such notice, the former officer is not eligible to renew the certification.

RULEMAKING

This bill authorizes the
commission
to
promulgate rules to carry out this
bill.

Current Bill Text

HOUSE BILL 1485
By Hale

SENATE BILL 1744
By Bowling
SB1744
009371
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 38,
Chapter 8, relative to the peace officer standards
and training commission.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 38-8-107, is amended by adding the
following new subsection:
(1) The commission shall issue a certificate of compliance to a law enforcement
officer upon separation from service or retirement from the law enforcement agency that
employed the officer. Upon separation from service or retirement, the former officer is
entitled to certification annually if the former officer:
(A) Has satisfactorily completed an approved recruit training program as
required by this part;
(B) Is up to date on the former officer's annual in-service training
commensurate with the former officer's rank and responsibilities;
(C) Provides the commission with a letter of good standing upon
separation from service or retirement from the executive head of the officer's
former employing law enforcement agency for each year that the former officer
applies for certification under this subsection ( );
(D) Provides the commission annually with proof satisfactory that the
former officer is a resident of this state, including the county of residence;
(E) Pays any fee associated with the issuance or renewal of such
certification; and

- 2 - 009371

(F) Satisfies all other requirements of the commission for certification
under this subsection ( ) after separation from service or retirement.
(2) A former law enforcement officer certified under this subsection ( ):
(A) Is not entitled to a pay supplement for such certification; and
(B) Shall notify the commission immediately upon becoming a resident of
another state or territory of the United States. Upon receipt of such notice, the
former officer is not eligible to renew the certification.
(3) The commission may promulgate rules to carry out this subsection ( ) in
accordance with the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act, codified in title 4, chapter 5.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.