This bill amends Section 45-27-234 of the Code of Alabama 1975, specifically regarding the qualifications required for an individual to be elected or appointed as Sheriff of Escambia County. The bill changes the effective date for these qualifications from May 18, 2020, to June 1, 2025. It also updates the language to replace "person" with "individual" throughout the qualifications. The qualifications include being a U.S. citizen, a resident of the county for at least one year, registered to vote in the county for at least one year, having a high school diploma or GED, being at least 25 years old, and having three or more years of full-time service as a law enforcement officer.

Additionally, the bill stipulates that if an individual has been retired or separated from active law enforcement for more than one year, they must obtain recertification from the Alabama Peace Officers' Standards and Training Commission before qualifying. It also introduces a new requirement that if the individual has ever retired from active law enforcement, they must have three or more years of full-time post-retirement law enforcement service prior to qualifying. Lastly, the bill mandates that upon election, the sheriff must complete a minimum of 12 hours of executive-level continuing education annually.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 45-27-234