(a) In addition to other powers and duties prescribed by law, the commission shall adopt, in accordance with the provisions of Kan. Stat. Ann. § 77-415 et seq., and amendments thereto, rules and regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of and to administer the Kansas law enforcement training act. The commission may also adopt such rules of procedure or guidance documents as are necessary for conducting the business of the commission.

(b) The commission or a designated committee or member of the commission may conduct investigations and proceedings necessary to carry out the provisions of the Kansas law enforcement training act. In all investigations, hearings or other matters pending before the commission, the commission or any person acting as a presiding officer for the commission shall have the power to:

(1) Administer oaths and take testimony;

(2) issue subpoenas, compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of any papers, books, accounts, documents and testimony, and to cause the deposition of witnesses, either residing within or without the state, to be taken in the manner prescribed by law for taking depositions in civil actions in the district courts. In case of the failure of any person to comply with any subpoena issued on behalf of the commission, or on the refusal of any witness to testify to any matters regarding which the witness may be lawfully questioned, the district court of any county, on application of a member of the commission, may require compliance by proceedings for contempt, as in the case of failure to comply with a subpoena issued from such court or a refusal to testify in such court. Each witness who appears before the commission by its order or subpoena, other than a state officer or employee, shall receive for such attendance the fees and mileage provided for witnesses in civil cases in courts of record which shall be audited and paid upon presentation of proper vouchers sworn to by such witnesses and approved by the chairperson of the commission or by a person or persons designated by the chairperson;

(3) enter into contracts necessary to administer the provisions of the Kansas law enforcement training act and the certification of law enforcement officers; and

(4) assess the costs of such matters pending before the commission under this section against the governmental entity employing the police officer or law enforcement officer.

(c) Members of the commission attending meetings of the commission, or attending a committee meeting authorized by the commission, shall be paid amounts provided for in subsection (e) of Kan. Stat. Ann. § 75-3223, and amendments thereto. The commission shall be responsible for approving all expense vouchers of members.

(d) The commission shall meet at least once each year at the training center and may hold other meetings whenever they are called by the chairperson.

(e) The commission shall adopt the rules and regulations that are necessary to ensure that law enforcement officers are adequately trained and to enforce the provisions of the Kansas law enforcement training act. Such rules and regulations shall include, but are not limited to, the establishment of a course of fire as a standard qualification for active law enforcement officers to carry firearms that may also be used for qualified retired officers to carry firearms pursuant to federal law. The director of police training shall provide qualification opportunities for qualified retired officers at the times and places the director determines to be necessary. The training center shall charge and collect a fee from retired state, local and federal officers for the qualification opportunities, but these fees shall be limited to the actual costs of presenting the standard qualifications course.

(f) On and after July 1, 2012, the commission shall require fingerprinting of each applicant for certification under the Kansas law enforcement training act, and may require fingerprinting of a person who has received a certificate under the Kansas law enforcement training act prior to July 1, 2012, if such person’s conduct is investigated pursuant to this section. The commission shall appoint an employee of the commission whose official duty includes seeking and maintaining confidential information as provided by this subsection. The appointed employee shall submit fingerprints to the Kansas bureau of investigation and to the federal bureau of investigation for the purpose of verifying the identity of such applicant or certificate holder and for obtaining records of that person’s criminal arrests and convictions. Upon the request of the appointed employee, the Kansas bureau of investigation and other criminal justice agencies shall provide to the appointed employee all background investigation information including criminal history record information, arrest and nonconviction data and criminal intelligence information. Such information, other than conviction data, shall be confidential and shall not be disclosed by the appointed employee, except for a purpose stated in this section. In addition to any other penalty provided by law, unauthorized disclosure of such information shall be grounds for removal from office or termination of employment.