The bill amends the law regarding reimbursement for law enforcement training costs, specifically extending the time frame for which reimbursement is required from eighteen months to twenty-four months after the completion of training. It specifies that if a law enforcement agency pays for the training of an officer and that officer is subsequently employed by another law enforcement agency within this twenty-four-month period, the new agency must reimburse the original agency for the training costs. The reimbursement structure is also revised, with the total reimbursement amount decreasing based on the time elapsed since training completion, with specific percentages outlined for different time frames.

Additionally, the bill introduces new requirements for reimbursement requests, mandating that they be submitted in writing and include an itemized list of costs. It also clarifies that private communities with populations over 5,000 that employ certified law enforcement officers are entitled to reimbursement. The bill further defines "law enforcement agency" and "private community" in accordance with existing statutes and establishes an effective date of January 1, 2026, for these changes.

Statutes affected:
SB 521: 12-9-209, 14-14-814, 12-9-602(a)
Act 748: 12-9-209, 14-14-814, 12-9-602(a)