- House Committee Substitute -

HCS/SS/SB 813 - This act changes some of the procedures for the discipline of certain law enforcement officers.

Officers who are covered by the act have a right to a hearing if dismissed, demoted, or suspended so as to suffer a reduction or withholding of salary or compensatory time. A hearing upon written request must be granted within thirty days of the disciplinary action. The act also requires the state to reimburse municipalities for the cost of new or increased activities or services beyond those currently required under Article X, Section 21 of the Constitution.

Any law enforcement agencies, or any municipality, already having similar written procedures are exempted from the provisions of this act. The act shall not apply to any officer who is: (1) not regularly employed for more than thirty hours per week; (2) employed by the state; (3) employed by a law enforcement agency which employs fifteen or fewer law enforcement officers; (4) serving a probationary period; or (5) the highest ranking officer in the law enforcement agency in question.

The act also specifies that the director of public safety may refuse to issue, or may suspend or revoke any diploma, certificate, or other indicia of compliance and qualification of peace officers or bailiffs where the party in question has made any illegal, unauthorized, or unprofessional use or release of criminal history information, criminal intelligent, confidential reports, or closed records.

DAVID TALLMAN