Existing law requires the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, in consultation with specified entities, to develop a modern policing degree program and to prepare and submit a report to the Legislature outlining a plan to implement it. AB 992 and SB 385 repeal the requirement that the California Police Officer Standards and Training Commission (POST) approve and adopt the education criteria for peace officers based on the recommendations in the report. AB 992 and SB 385 thus impose higher education requirements directly, without POST approval and adoption. SB 385 also declares that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.
Existing law enumerates the minimum standards that peace officers must meet, including minimum education standards. AB 992 authorizes specified credential evaluation services to evaluate the equivalency of a foreign college or university degree for purposes of attaining the minimum education standards.
Starting on January 1, 2031, each peace officer must attain at least one enumerated degree or certificate. This includes a modern policing degree or a professional policing certificate as described in AB 992. The degree or certificate must be attained no later than 36 months after the peace officer receives their basic certificate from POST.
This requirement does not apply to any individual with at least eight years of experience as a sworn peace officer from another state and with a separation in good standing, or with at least eight years of military service and with an honorable discharge if military service has concluded. An individual with less than eight years of the requisite experience as a sworn police officer from another state or the requisite military service must attain an enumerated degree or certificate no later than 48 months after receiving their basic certificate from POST.
A modern policing degree or professional policing certificate must meet certain enumerated criteria. A modern policing degree must require at least 60 semester units or 90 quarter units, award credits for required POST-certified academy course instruction, and offer courses that include, without limitation, communications, psychology, writing, ethics, and criminal justice. A professional policing certificate must require at least 16 semester units or 24 quarter units, and include, without limitations, courses in the same list of subjects as a modern policing degree.
AB 992 does not apply to any person who, as of December 31, 2030, is currently enrolled in a basic academy or is employed as a peace officer by a public entity in California or the State Department of State Hospitals.
(AB 992 amends section 1031 of the Government Code and adds section 1031.5 to the Government Code; AB 992 and SB 385 amend section 13511.1 of the Penal Code.)