The bill proposes to repeal the existing section 590.050 of Missouri law and replace it with a new section that outlines updated continuing education requirements for peace officers. The new legislation mandates that all peace officers must complete three hours of training on the prohibition against racial profiling, which emphasizes understanding and respect for racial and cultural differences, as well as effective, noncombative law enforcement methods in diverse environments. Additionally, it introduces a requirement for peace officers to receive one hour of annual training on autism sensitivity, focusing on recognizing signs of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and effective interaction with individuals with ASD. This autism training can be conducted virtually and is included in the annual continuing education hours required by the Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) commission. Furthermore, the bill outlines the responsibilities of the director in licensing continuing education providers and the process for appealing decisions related to licensing. It also specifies that the costs associated with continuing law enforcement education may be partially reimbursed from the peace officer standards and training commission fund, provided that funds are available and that they are not used for training individuals who are not actively commissioned or employed by law enforcement agencies.

Statutes affected:
Introduced (6345H.01): 590.050