(a) The commission shall implement by January 1, 2002, a course or courses of instruction for the training of law enforcement officers in California in the handling of stalking complaints and also shall develop guidelines for law enforcement response to stalking. The course or courses of instruction and the guidelines shall stress enforcement of criminal laws in stalking situations, availability of civil remedies and community resources, and protection of the victim. Where appropriate, the training presenters shall include stalking experts with expertise in the delivery of direct services to victims of stalking. Completion of the course may be satisfied by telecommunication, video training tape, or other instruction.

(b) (1) As used in this section, “law enforcement officer” means any officer or employee of a local police department or sheriff’s office, any peace officer of the Department of Parks and Recreation, as defined in subdivision (f) of Section 830.2, any peace officer of the University of California Police Department, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 830.2, any peace officer of the California State University Police Departments, as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 830.2, a peace officer, as defined in subdivision (d) of Section 830.31, or a peace officer as defined in subdivisions (a) and (b) of Section 830.32.

(2) As used in this section, “stalking” means the offense defined in Section 646.9.

(c) (1) The course of instruction, the learning and performance objectives, the standards for the training, and the guidelines shall be developed by the commission in consultation with appropriate groups and individuals having an interest and expertise in the field of stalking.

(2) The commission, in consultation with these groups and individuals, shall review existing training programs to determine in what ways stalking training might be included as a part of ongoing programs.

(d) Participation in the course or courses specified in this section by peace officers or the agencies employing them, is voluntary.

(Added by Stats. 2000, Ch. 564, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2001.)