75-5212. Training for corrections and parole officers. (a) The secretary shall adopt rules and regulations establishing standards of training and provisions for certifying corrections officers and parole officers.

(b) Except as provided in subsection (c), no person shall receive a permanent appointment as a corrections officer or a parole officer unless awarded a certificate by the secretary, attesting to satisfactory completion of a basic course of instruction approved by the secretary and consisting of not less than 200 hours of instruction. The certificate shall be effective during the term of a person's employment, except that any person who has terminated employment with the secretary for a period exceeding one year shall be required to be certified again.

(c) The secretary may award a certificate attesting to the satisfactory completion of a basic course of instruction to any person who has been duly certified under the laws of another state or territory if, in the opinion of the secretary, the requirements for certification in the other jurisdiction are equal to or exceed the requirements for certification in this state. The secretary may waive any number of hours or courses required to complete the basic course of instruction for any person who, in the opinion of the secretary, has received sufficient training or experience that such hours of instruction would be unduly burdensome or duplicitous.

(d) Every corrections officer shall receive not less than 40 hours of in-service training annually.

History: L. 1973, ch. 339, § 19; L. 1974, ch. 403, § 7; L. 1978, ch. 365, § 5; L. 1980, ch. 287, § 1; L. 1984, ch. 112, § 15; L. 1990, ch. 309, § 50; L. 2008, ch. 70, § 1; July 1.