The bill amends the law regarding reimbursement for law enforcement training costs, specifically extending the reimbursement period from eighteen months to twenty-four months after a law enforcement officer completes their training. It specifies that if a law enforcement agency pays for an officer's training 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 new law stipulating that if the officer is employed within twelve months, the full training costs are reimbursed, while a reduced percentage is reimbursed for employment between twelve and twenty-four months.

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. The act is set to take effect on January 1, 2026.

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