THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

INTRODUCED BY ADOLPH, KILLION, MICOZZIE, BOYD, BRENNAN, CALTAGIRONE, FAIRCHILD, GINGRICH, GODSHALL, GOODMAN, GROVE, HELM, KNOWLES, KORTZ, LONGIETTI, McILVAINE SMITH, MUNDY, PAYNE, PICKETT, READSHAW, ROAE AND SIPTROTH, JULY 29, 2010

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, JULY 29, 2010  

AN ACT

Amending Title 53 (Municipalities Generally) of the Pennsylvania

Consolidated Statutes, further providing for definitions and

for powers and duties of commission; and providing for in-

service training for police officers.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Section 2162 of Title 53 of the Pennsylvania

Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a definition to read:

§ 2162.  Definitions.

The following words and phrases when used in this subchapter

shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the

context clearly indicates otherwise:

* * *

"Distance education."  Education in which the police officer

participates in educational activity by use of a computer rather

than a classroom where the faculty and police officer are

physically located in the same room.

* * *

Section 2.  Section 2164(6) of Title 53 is amended to read:

§ 2164.  Powers and duties of commission.

The powers and duties of the commission shall be as follows:

* * *

(6)  To require every police officer to attend a minimum

number of hours of in-service training as provided [for by

regulation] in section 2169.1 (relating to in-service

training for police officers), unless the officer's employer

files a show cause document with the commission requesting

additional time for the officer to comply with the in-service

training requirements. Approval of this request shall be made

by the commission on a case-by-case basis.

* * *

Section 3.  Title 53 is amended by adding a section to read:

§ 2169.1.  In-service training for police officers.

(a)  General rule.--The following shall apply to police

officers:

(1)  Police officers shall complete 24 hours of in-

service training biennially.

(2)  Police officers shall be permitted to complete up to

one-half of the biennial requirement of in-service training

through distance education.

(3)  Police officers may submit proof of successful

completion of academic courses taken from an accredited

college or university in order to fulfill a portion of the

biennial requirement of in-service training.

(b)  Duties of commission.--The commission shall promulgate

reasonable regulations to implement a system of in-service

training for police officers:

(1)  Requiring police officers to complete 24 hours of

in-service training biennially.

(2)  Permitting police officers to complete up to one-

half of the biennial requirement of in-service training

through distance education. The commission shall approve

course providers and course content.

(3)  Permitting police officers to submit proof of

successful completion of academic courses taken from an

accredited college or university in order to fulfill a

portion of the biennial requirement of in-service training.

The commission shall:

(i)  Determine the number of hours which may be

approved for fulfilling the biennial in-service

requirement through the successful completion of academic

courses.

(ii)  Approve course providers and course content.

(4)  Permitting the calculation of hours of in-service

training through the use of continuing education units as

appropriate in the case of a police officer who fulfills the

biennial requirement of in-service training through distance

education and successful completion of academic courses taken

from an accredited college or university.

Section 4.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.