The 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. Key changes include the effective date of the new qualifications, which is moved from May 18, 2020, to June 1, 2025. The term "person" is replaced with "individual" throughout the qualifications, emphasizing the requirement for citizenship, residency, voter registration, educational attainment, age, and law enforcement experience. Notably, the bill reduces the maximum allowable time for separation from active law enforcement from two years to one year, and introduces a new requirement for individuals who have retired from law enforcement to have three or more years of full-time post-retirement service prior to qualifying.

Additionally, the bill mandates that upon election, the sheriff must complete a minimum of 12 hours of executive-level continuing education annually, which must be approved by recognized law enforcement associations. This provision aims to ensure that the sheriff remains updated on best practices and standards in law enforcement. The overall intent of the bill is to enhance the qualifications and ongoing education of the sheriff to better serve the community.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 45-27-234